Tanwar v Cauchi [2001] NSWSC 674

Reported Decision : (2002) NSW ConvR 55-994

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Tanwar v Cauchi [2001] NSWSC 674 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 3321 of 2001 HEARING DATE(S) : 2 August 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 9 August 2001

Tanwar Enterprises Pty Limited (Plaintiff) Joseph Cauchi (First Defendant) PARTIES : Angelo Cauchi (Second Defendant) Mary Cauchi (Third Defendant) Julian Daley (Fourth Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Windeyer J at 1

COUNSEL : F.M. Douglas Q C with him Mr L.J. Aitken (Plaintiff) I.M. Wales S C (Defendants) SOLICITORS : Alexander Lee & Associates (Plaintiff) Low Doherty & Stratford (Defendants) CATCHWORDS : CONVEYANCING - vendor and purchaser - contracts for sale of land not completed on their terms - deed giving further time for completion clearly stating time of essence and failure to complete would result in forfeiture of deposits - second mortgage moneys required for settlement not available on last day as delay in transfer from Singapore - moneys available following day - contract terminated after notice moneys available - whether relief against forfeiture should be granted - whether return of deposit should be ordered - CONVEYANCING - vendor and purchaser - claim for return of deposit under s 55(2A) of Conveyancing Act 1919 - whether return should be ordered - EQUITY - relief against forfeiture - whether relief against forfeiture of interest in land should be granted after termination of contracts - whether failure to complete result of accident - whether unconscionable to terminate the contract LEGISLATION CITED : Conveyancing Act 1919 s55(2A) Lucas & Tait Pty Ltd v Victoria Securities Ltd [1973] 2 NSW LR 269 Pentagold Investments Pty Ltd v Romanos 2001 NSWSC 269 CASES CITED : Pratt v Hawkins (1991) 32 NSWLR 319 Story: Commentaries on Equity Jurisprudence Vol 1 Spence: Equitable Jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery Vol 1 p. 628 DECISION : See paragraph 19