Abigroup v Peninsula [2001] NSWSC 752

[2001] NSWSC 752 Reported Decision : [2001] ACL Rep 100 NSW 7 (2001) ATPR (Digest) 46-213

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Abigroup v Peninsula [2001] NSWSC 752 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division Construction List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 55034/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 09/07/01, 10/07/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 3 September 2001

PARTIES : Abigroup Contractors Pty Limited - Plaintiff Peninsula Balmain Pty Limited - Defendant JUDGMENT OF : Barrett J

COUNSEL : Mr B.W. Walker SC/Mr I.D. Faulkner - Plaintiff Mr M.G. Rudge SC/Mr M. Christie - Defendant SOLICITORS : Clayton Utz - Plaintiff Deacons - Defendant CATCHWORDS : CONTRACTS - building, engineering and related contracts - adoption of report of referee - principles to be applied - TRADE PRACTICES - referee's finding of misleading and deceptive conduct in contract formation - materiality thereof - misrepresentation by silence - misrepresentation as to independence of superintendent - appropriate compensation LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act 1974 Super Pty Ltd v SJP Formwork (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 29 NSWLR 549 Walter Construction Group Ltd v Walker Corporation Ltd (2001) 47 ATR 48 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v C E Heath Underwriting Services (1995) 8 ANZ Ins Cas 61-123 Jarvan Pty Ltd v John R Carr & Associates Pty Ltd (NSWCA) unreported, 1 December 1998 Franks v Berem Constructions Pty Ltd, unreported, 2 December 1998 Renard Constructions (ME) Pty Ltd v Minister for Public Works (1992) 26 NSWLR 234 Turner Corporation Pty Ltd v Austotel Pty Ltd (1944) 13 BCL 378 Jennings Construction Ltd v QH & M Birt Pty Ltd (1986) 8 NSWLR 19 China Ocean Shipping Co Ltd v PS Chellaram & Co Ltd (1990) 28 NSWLR 354 Hook v Rolfe (1986) 7 NSWLR 40 Perini Corporation v Commonwealth (1969) 2 NSWR 530 Sutcliffe v Thackrah [1974] AC 727 Dixon v South Australian Railways Commissioner (1923) 34 CLR 71 Demagogue Pty Ltd v Ramensky (1992) 39 FCR 31 General Newspapers Pty Ltd v Telstra Corporation (1993) 45 FCR 164 CASES CITED : Curwen v Yan Yean Land Co Ltd (1891) 17 VLR 745 Winterton Constructions Pty Ltd v Hambros Australia Ltd (1992) 39 FCR 97 Australian Development Corporation v White Industries Ltd [2001] NSWCA 9 Lam v Austinel Investments Pty Ltd (1990) 97 FLR 458 Fraser v NRMA Holdings Ltd (1995) 55 FCR 452 Cackett v Keswick [1902] 2 Ch 456 Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71 Pilmer v The Duke Group Ltd [2001] HCA 31 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 494 Tenji v Henneberry & Associates Pty Ltd (2000) 98 FCR 324 Trade Practices Commission v Milreis Pty Ltd (1977) 29 FLR 144 Trimis v Mina [1999] NSWCA 140 Pavey & Matthews Pty Ltd v Paul (1987) 162 CLR 221 Phillips v Ellison Brothers Pty Ltd (1941) 65 CLR 221 Craven-Ellis v Canons Ltd [1936] 2 KB 403 Hurley v McDonalds Australia Ltd (2000) 8 ATPR 41,741 DECISION : Referee's report adopted with one variation. Plaintiff entitled to compensation under s.87 Trade Practices Act 1974