Scarcella v Linknarf Management Services Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2004] NSWSC 360

Reported Decision : (2005) NSW ConvR 56-106

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Scarcella v Linknarf Management Services Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2004] NSWSC 360 HEARING DATE(S) : 1, 2 & 23 April 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 30 April 2004 JURISDICTION: Equity JUDGMENT OF : Hamilton J DECISION : Termination of lease by tenant by acceptance of repudiation by landlords not established. Cross claim for negligence by tenant and its holding company not made out.

CATCHWORDS : LANDLORD AND TENANT [43] - Agreements for lease - Creation of - Writing - Consent not to be unreasonably withheld - Whether unreasonable withholding of consent breach of covenant or obligation on part of landlord - Whether unreasonable withholding of consent can amount to a repudiation capable of acceptance by tenant - TORTS [22] - Negligence - Essentials of action for negligence - Duty of care - Relationship of proximity - Landlord and tenant and holding company of tenant - Landlord alleged to have unreasonably withheld consent to assignment of lease. LEGISLATION CITED : Conveyancing Act 1919 s 133B(1) Barina Properties Pty Ltd v Bernard Hastie (Australia) Pty Ltd [1979] 1 NSWLR 480 Cathedral Place Pty Ltd v Hyatt of Australia Ltd [2003] VSC 385 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540 International Drilling Fluids Ltd v Louisville Investments (Uxbridge) Ltd [1986] Ch 513 Laurinda Pty Ltd v Capalaba Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd (1989) 166 CLR 623 Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180 CASES CITED : Shevill v The Builders Licensing Board (1982) 149 CLR 620 State of NSW v Godfrey [2004] NSWCA 113 Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562 Tamsco Ltd v Franklins Ltd (2001) 10 BPR 19,077 The Progressive Mailing House Pty Ltd v Tabali Pty Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 17 Treloar v Bigge (1874) LR 9 Ex 151 Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 16 Yared v Spier [1979] 2 NSWLR 291 Francesco Scarcella (1P & 1XD) Helen Scarcella (2P & 2XD) PARTIES : Rocky Scarcella (3P & 3XD) Linknarf Management Services Pty Ltd (In Liq) (1D & 1XC) Ronald George Davies (2D) Linknarf Limited (In Liq) (2XC) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2235/02 COUNSEL : V R W Gray (Ps & XDs) D B Studdy (Ds & XCs) SOLICITORS : Corporate & Civil Legal (Ps & XDs) Gilbert & Tobin (Ds & XCs)