Eric & Valerie Coffey & Ors v Fernbank Management Pty Ltd & Anor [2001] NSWSC 192

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Eric & Valerie Coffey & Ors v Fernbank Management Pty Ltd & Anor [2001] NSWSC 192 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2985 of 1999 HEARING DATE(S) : 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 October and 11, 12 and 13 December 2000, 23 March 2001 and 4 April 2001. JUDGMENT DATE : 23 April 2001

Eric Coffey & Valerie L Coffey (First Plaintiffs/First Cross Defendants as representatives of the Plaintiffs/Cross Defendants) PARTIES : Fernbank Management Pty Ltd (First Defendant/Cross Claimant) Fernbank Developments Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Bergin J

COUNSEL : S Robb QC/M Meek (Plaintiffs/Cross Defendants) R McDougall QC/MD Young (Defendants/Cross Claimant) SOLICITORS : Stewart Cuddy & Mockler (Plaintiffs/Cross Defendants) Tress Cocks & Maddox (Defendants/Cross Claimant) CATCHWORDS : CONTRACT - Previous Court of Appeal finding that "web" of agreements of no force or effect - Whether an agreement executed subsequently purporting to replace one of the agreements in the web renders other agreements enforceable. - ESTOPPEL - Whether plaintiffs estopped by reason of demands on defendant to provide services under the Agreements and defendants providing those services. - RESTITUTION - Nature of determination - Fair and just remuneration - Whether application of fee stipulated in unenforceable agreements is just - Whether other methods of assessment applicable. LEGISLATION CITED : Real Property Act 1900 Barry v Heider (1914) 19 CLR 197 Brambles Holdings Limited v Bathurst City Council [2001] NSWCA 61, 23 March 2001 Codelfa Constructions Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1981-1982) 149 CLR 337 Davis v Mortgage Acceptance Nominees Limited NSWSC Rolfe J unreported, 20 April 1994 CASES CITED : Gillett & Ors v Halwood Corporation Ltd & Ors NSWSC Rolfe J unreported 25 July 1995 Gillett v Halwood Corporation Ltd & Ors NSWCA, unreported, 26 March 1998 Hungerfords & Ors v Walker & Ors (1990) 171 CLR 125 Pavey & Matthews Pty Ltd v Paul (1987) 162 CLR 221 [Mason & Carter Restitution Law in Australia. Butterworths (1995)] DECISION : Declarations in favour of plaintiffs on Statement of Claim. Orders in favour of Cross Defendant on Cross Claim for fee stipulated in unenforceable Agreement.