Churnin & Ors v Pilot Developments Pty Limited [2003] NSWCA 391

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Churnin & Ors v Pilot Developments Pty Limited [2003] NSWCA 391 HEARING DATE(S) : 3 September 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 December 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Handley JA at 1; Santow JA at 13; Foster AJA at 61 DECISION : (1) Appeals dismissed with costs; (2) Leave granted for the parties to submit orders, in agreed form, if consequential orders are now required in light of the orders made by Ipp JA on 31 July 2003.

CATCHWORDS : CONSTRUCTION - Interpretation of contract - Subdivision - Right to rescission - Vendor of apartments required to proceed with all due expedition to procure subdivision - The builder's failure to proceed diligently - Affect on vendor's obligation - Vendor's requirement to use 'best endeavours' to cause the work to be done - Proper and workmanlike manner - Time within which completion is required. Cavallari v Premier Refrigeration Company Pty Ltd (1952) 85 CLR 20 Hardy v Wardy (2001) 10 BPR 19,055; [2002] ANZ ConvR 261 Hawes v Cuzeno Pty Ltd (1999) 10 BPR 18,011 CASES CITED : Hawkins & Anor v Pender Bros Pty Limited & Anor (Supreme Court of Queensland Court of Appeal, 29 August 1995, unreported) Masters v Belpate Pty Ltd (2001) 10 BPR 18,527 Plumor Pty Ltd v Handley (1996) 41 NSWLR 30 Wardy v Hardy (2002) 11 BPR 20,227; (2003) NSW ConvR 56-034 Woodcock v Parlby Investments Pty Ltd (1988) 4 BPR 9568 Brian CHURNIN and Anor (First Appellants) Richard GLOVER (Second Appellant) Marcelle PEARSN and Anor (Third Appellants) David BLACKMAN and Anor (Fourth Appellants) PARTIES : David BLCKMAN and Ors (Fifth Appellants) Brendan MASON and Anor (Sixth Appellants) Grant CHEETHAM and Anor (Seventh Appellants) Michael FITZSIMONS (Eighth Appellant) PILOT DEVELOPMETNS PTY LIMITED (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40622/03 COUNSEL : B WALKER, SC/ I FAULKNER, SC/ J NEAL (Appellants) B W RAYMENT, QC/ S BALAFOUTIS (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Picone & Co (Appellants) Piper Alderman (Respondent)