Alanbert Pty Ltd v Bulevi Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 261

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Alanbert Pty Ltd v Bulevi Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 261 revised - 3/07/2000 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 4528/97 HEARING DATE(S) : 5 & 6 August, 14 & 15 October, 2, 4 & 17 December 1998, 9, 12, 15, 16 & 24 March, 29 April, 25 May and 10 & 22 June 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 6 April 2000

Alanbert Pty Limited (P1) Bernoth Realty Pty Ltd (P2) PARTIES : Cecil Alan Bernoth (P3) Bulevi Pty Ltd (D1) Davhand Pty Ltd (D2) JUDGMENT OF : Hamilton J

COUNSEL : C A B Fairbairn (P1-3) R K Weaver (D1 & 2) SOLICITORS : John Saroff & Company (P1-3) Watson Mangioni (D1 & 2) CATCHWORDS : CONTRACTS [126] - General contractual principles - Discharge - Frustration - Commercial frustration - Rezoning not achieved - EQUITY [52] - General principles - Duress - What constitutes - TRADE AND COMMERCE [92], [94] - Misleading or deceptive conduct - Particular classes of conduct - Real estate transactions - Joint venture for subdivision of land - Whether representation made in absolute terms that further subdivision would be achieved - Proceedings, evidence and procedure - Pleading - Necessity for reliance on Trade Practices Act s 51A to be pleaded or particularised. Fair Trading Act 1987 s 42 LEGISLATION CITED : Frustrated Contracts Act 1978 Supreme Court Act 1970 s 94 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 52 Adelaide Petroleum NL v Poseidon Ltd (1988) ATPR 40-901 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v IMB Group Ltd (1999) ATPR 41-704 Caratti v DFC of T (1993) 93 ATC 5,192 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1982) 149 CLR 337 Crescendo Management Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1988) 19 NSWLR 40 Cummings v Lewis (1993) 41 FCR 559 Davis Contractors Ltd v Fareham Urban District Council [1956] AC 696 Dimskal Shipping Co SA v International Transport Workers Federation [1992] 2 AC 152 CASES CITED : Equiticorp Finance Ltd (in liq) v Bank of New Zealand (1993) 11 ACSR 642 Global Sportsman Pty Ltd v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1984) 2 FCR 82 Gould v Vaggelas (1985) 157 CLR 215 Mahlo v Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd [1999] NSWCA 358 Phoenix Court Pty Ltd v Melbourne Central Pty Ltd, (1997) ATPR (Dig) 46-179 Scolio Pty Ltd v Cote (1992) 6 WAR 475 Westpac Banking Corporation v Cockerill (1998) 152 ALR 267 Carter and Harland, Contract Law in Australia (3rd Ed, 1996) [2001] Mason and Carter, Restitution Law in Australia [1210] DECISION : Plaintiffs' claim to set aside deed for duress not made out; defendants' claims for misleading or deceptive conduct and negligence not made out; defendants' claim for payment for extra work established.