W & F Lechner P/L v Drummond & Rosen P/L [2001] NSWSC 275

Reported Decision : (2001) 38 ACSR 42

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : W & F Lechner P/L v Drummond & Rosen P/L [2001] NSWSC 275 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 4791/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 6 March 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 12 April 2001

PARTIES : W & F Lechner Pty Limited (ACN 000 383 040) (Appellant) Drummond & Rosen Pty Limited (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Santow J

COUNSEL : R W R Parker, QC/D L Warren (Appellant) S D Epstein, SC/D A C Robertson (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Autore & Associates (Appellant) Mills Cameron Gallagher Lawyers (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : CORPORATIONS — Statutory Demand — Progress payment to architect capable of giving rise to a presently owing liquidated debt under the relevant contract — No genuine dispute — Whether need for further substantiation in verifying affidavit of basis for time charging — allowing appeal ground not previously argued — Alleged defects in affidavit verifying statutory demand under s459E falls to be considered by reference to substantial injustice — None here — Wider discretion to set aside statutory demand if it exists not to be exercised in circumstances. LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Law s447A; s459E; s459G; s459J; s1322 Corporations Law Rules Rule 1.7 B & M Quality Constructions Pty Ltd v Buyrite Steel Supplies Pty Ltd (1995) 13 ACLC 88 Besser Industries (NT) Pty Ltd v Steelcon Constructions Pty Ltd (1995) 16 ACSR 596 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 David Grant & Co Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1994) 12 ACLC 895 Hunter v West Maitland Municipality (1923) 23 SR(NSW) 420 Kalamunda Peach Wholesalers Pty Ltd v Reg Russell & Sons Pty Ltd (1994) 12 ACLC 391 CASES CITED : Kezarn v Sydney Asbestos Removal Limited (1998) 29 ACSR 11 Rothwells Ltd v Nommack (No. 100) Pty Ltd (1988) 6 ACLC 1,199 Scandon Pty Ltd v Dome Supplies Pty Ltd (1995) 13 ACLC 1,256 Spencer Constructions Pty Ltd v G & M Aldridge Pty Limited (1997) 15 ACLC 1001 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418 Topfelt Pty Ltd v State Bank of New South Wales Ltd (1994) 12 ACLC 15 Torrens Aloha Pty Limited v San Modern Painting Pty Limited ([2000] NSWSC 227, Santow J, 27 March 2001, unreported) Waterboard v Moustakas (1988) 180 CLR 491 DECISION : Master's decision upheld