Warnervale Concreting Pty Limited (In Liquidation) v Abigroup Contractors Pty Limited [2002] NSWSC 452

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Warnervale Concreting Pty Limited (In Liquidation) v Abigroup Contractors Pty Limited [2002] NSWSC 452 revised - 12/06/2002 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50037/02 HEARING DATE(S) : 10 May 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 29 May 2002

PARTIES : Warnervale Concreting Pty Limited (In Liquidation) (Plt) Abigroup Contractors Pty Limited (Def) JUDGMENT OF : McClellan J

COUNSEL : D R Pritchard (Pltf/Resp) M Rudge SC (Def/Appl) SOLICITORS : Blake Dawson Waldron (Plt/Resp) Clayton Utz (Def/Appl) CATCHWORDS : COMMERCIAL - application for stay of proceedings - contractual clause for resolution of dispute - whether a stay pursuant to s 53 of Commercial Arbitration Act should be granted - whether there will be more than one proceedings in respect of the same claims - contractual claim as well as Trade Practices Act claim - whether a request for documents constitutes a step in the proceedings LEGISLATION CITED : Commercial Arbitration Act 1984 s 53 Trade Practices Act 1974 IBM Australia Limited v National Distribution Services Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 466 Francis Travel Marketing Pty Limited v Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited (1996) 39 NSWLR 160-165 Savcor Pty Limited v State of New South Wales (2001) 52 NSWLR 587 Huddert Parker Ltd v The Ship Mill Hill (1950) 81 CLR 502 Petersville Limited v Peters (WA) (1997) ATPR 41-566 CASES CITED : Thomas v Star Maid Internatioal Pty Ltd (1999) FCA 911 ABB Power Plants v Electricity Commission of New South Wales (1995) 35 NSWLR 596 Moussa v Eski Export Pty Ltd (2000) FCA 1670 Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd v Transfield Pty Ltd (1998) VSC 103 Qantas Airways v Dillingham Corporation (1985) 4 NSWLR 113 El Amria [1981] 2 Lloyds Rep 119 DECISION : Paras 23-24