Wardman v Hatfield [2003] NSWCA 283

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Wardman v Hatfield [2003] NSWCA 283 revised - 09/10/2003 HEARING DATE(S) : 11 September 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 8 October 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Tobias JA at 2; Foster AJA at 32 DECISION : a) Leave to appeal granted on condition that the claimants file their notice of appeal within 14 days of the date of these orders; b) Appeal allowed; c) The orders made by Acting Chief Judge Boyd-Boland on 30 April 2003 be set aside; d) Proceedings No. 8492 of 2002 in the District Court be dismissed; e) The opponent to pay the claimants' costs of the District Court proceedings and of the appeal but to have, in respect of the costs of the appeal, a certificate under the Suitor's Fund Act 1951, if entitled thereto.

CATCHWORDS : CONTRACT - breach of contract - guarantee - when liability of guarantor arises in relation to default - LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - when cause of action accrued - whether proceedings statute barred - D Fair Trading Act 1987 LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act, s52 Fair Trading Act 1987 (SA), s56 Suitor's Fund Act 1951 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (1964) 112 CLR 125 Wardley Australia Limited v Western Australia (1992) 174 CLR 514 Segal v Flemming (2002) NSWCA 262 Van Win Pty Limited v Eleventh Mironton Pty Limited (1986) VR 484 CASES CITED : St George Bank Limited v MJK Pty Limited (1999) FCA 1752 National House-Building Council v Fraser (1983) 1ALL ER 1090 Keene v Devine (1986) WAR 217 Rickday v Lewis (1905) 22 TLR 130 Vining v Marsden & Ors 25 November 1996 (unreported) PARTIES : Peter John Wardman Kenneth David Hatfield FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40447/03 COUNSEL : C - Ms K Rees O - Mr J Kirk SOLICITORS : C - Mallesons Stephen Jaques O - Alec Goldman Esq.