Savcor v State of NSW [2001] NSWSC 596

Reported Decision : 52 NSWLR 587

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Savcor v State of NSW [2001] NSWSC 596 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division Construction List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 55007/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 12/07/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 18 July 2001

Savcor Pty Limited - Plaintiff PARTIES : The State of New South Wales - First Defendant Cooinda Ceramics Pty Limited - Second Defendant JUDGMENT OF : Barrett J

COUNSEL : Mr M.G. Rudge SC/Mr D.T. Miller - Plaintiff Mr R.W. Hunt - First Defendant SOLICITORS : Colin Biggers & Paisley - Plaintiff Allens Arthur Robinson - First Defendant CATCHWORDS : PROCEDURE - miscellaneous procedural matters - whether proceedings by plaintiff against two defendants should be tried separately - common factual questions - just, quick and cheap resolution better served by refusing application for separate trial - ARBITRATION - submission and reference - agreement to submit dispute to arbitration only if expert determination first results in liability of more than $500,000 - whether "arbitration agreement" within Commercial Arbitration Act 1984 - whether claims that contract void for mistake or should be declared void for misleading and deceptive pre-contract representations are "in any way related to" contract - whether such claims may properly be determined by expert - whether proceedings should be stayed pending expert determination and, if applicable, arbitration - only one defendant bound by dispute resolution clause - undesirable multiplicity of proceedings - stay refused Fair Trading Act 1987 LEGISLATION CITED : Commercial Arbitration Act 1984 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Qantas Airways Ltd v A F Little Pty Ltd [1981] 2 NSWLR 34 PMT Partners Pty Ltd v Australian Parks and Wildlife Service (1995) 184 CLR 301 Fletcher Construction Australia Ltd v State of New South Wales (unreported, NSWSC, 2 December 1997) Channel Tunnel Group Ltd v Balfour Beatty Constructions Ltd [1993] AC 334 Ferris v Plaister (1994) 34 NSWLR 474 Heyman v Darwins Ltd [1942] AC 356 IBM Australia v National Distribution Services Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 466 Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Atkinson-Leighton Joint Venture (1981) 146 CLR 206 Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd v Kayah Holdings Pty Ltd (1997) 14 BCL 277 In Re Carus-Wilson and Greene (1886) 18 QBD 7 Fermentation Industries (Aust) Pty Ltd v Burns Philp & Co Ltd (unreported, NSWSC, 12 February 1998) CASES CITED : Legal & General Life of Australia Ltd v A Hudson Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 314 Kanivah Holdings Pty Ltd v Holdsworth Properties Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 405 Francis Travel Marketing Pty Ltd v Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd (1996) 39 NSWLR 160 Hi-Fert Pty Ltd v Kiukiang Maritime Carriers Inc (1998) 90 FCR 1 O'Connor v LEAW Pty Ltd (1997) 42 NSWLR 285 Timic v Hammock [2001] FCA 74 Huddert Parker Ltd v The Ship Mill Hill (1950) 81 CLR 502 Badgin Nominees Pty Ltd v Oneida [1998] VSC 188 Petersville Ltd v Peters (WA) Ltd [1997] ATPR 41-566 Thomas v Star Maid International Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 911 Moussa v Eski Export Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 1670 Tasmanian Pulp & Forest Holdings Ltd v Woodhall Ltd [1971] Tas SR 330 Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd v Transfield Pty Ltd [1998] VSC 103 DECISION : First defendant's Notice of Motion dismissed with costs