De Martin & Gasparini v Energy Australia & 1 Ors [2002] NSWCA 330

Reported Decision : (2002) 55 NSWLR 577

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : De Martin & Gasparini v Energy Australia & 1 Ors [2002] NSWCA 330 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40115/02 HEARING DATE(S) : 23 May 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 30 September 2002

De Martin & Gasparini Pty Limited (ACN 000 205 372) (Claimant) PARTIES : Energy Australia (First Respondent) Austin Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 000 363 020) (Second Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Hodgson JA at 1; Santow JA at 12; Pearlman AJA at 62

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court LOWER COURT SC 55053/01 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Simpson J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

C Gee, QC/ A J Abadee (Claimant) COUNSEL : submitting appearance (First Respondent) M Rudge, SC/ S Kerr (Second Respondent) Minter Ellison (Claimant) SOLICITORS : Energy Australia (First Respondent) Colin Biggers & Paisley (Second Respondent) CATCHWORDS : BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT - statutory construction - s14(3) Contractors Debts Act 1997 - attachment order - two stage process - whether the court is required to first assess the claim on the face of the application and then exercise a discretion of whether to make the order after considering other relevant evidence Building and Construction Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Contractors Debts Act 1997 (NSW) ss5-9; s14 Interpretation Act 1987 s33 Residential Tribunal Act 1998 s63(2) Fyntray Constructions Pty. Ltd. v. Macind Drainage & Hydraulic Services Pty. Ltd. [2000] NSWCA 238 CASES CITED: Holloway v Chairperson of the Residential Tribunal (2001) 51 NSWLR 716 Jemzone Pty Ltd v Trytan Pty Ltd (2002) 42 ACSR 42 Promenade Investments v State of New South Wales (1992) 26 NSWLR 203 DECISION : (1) Application for leave to appeal dismissed with costs; (2) Stay of Simpson J's order of 15 February 2002 discharged; Noted that the discharge of the attachment order has been stayed pending the determination of this application.