Powercell v Cuzeno [2003] NSWSC 600

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Powercell v Cuzeno [2003] NSWSC 600 HEARING DATE(S) : 2/6/03 - 6/6/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 July 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity JUDGMENT OF : Campbell J DECISION : Issue estoppel arises from previous decision as to terms of contract, and matters going to validity of contract - no issue estoppel, in circumstances of unusual basis for earlier decision, concerning whether section 54A Conveyancing Act prevents recovery of damages for breach of contract - contract unenforceable because not complying with section 54A Conveyancing Act

CATCHWORDS : ESTOPPEL - former adjudication and matters of record or quasi record - when issue estoppel arises - respective roles of trial judge and appellate court's findings in creating issue estoppels - relevance of remarks of High Court Justices on application for special leave to issue estoppel - role of error in earlier judgment to whether issue estoppel arises - whether "special circumstances" exception to issue estoppel - CONTRACTS - GENERAL CONTRACTUAL PRINCIPLES - Statute of Frauds, section 4 - what is a "contract for the sale or other disposition of land or any interest in land" - possibility of an estoppel against application of the Statute - whether part-performance can entitle plaintiff to recover damages if contract breaches Statute - DAMAGES - measure and remoteness of damages in actions for breach of contract - circumstances in which costs of appealing are recoverable damages - CONTRACTS - GENERAL CONTRACTUAL PRINCIPLES - illegal and void contracts - application of section 23C(1)(a) Conveyancing Act to contract for disposal of interest in land Conveyancing Act 1919 Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930 LEGISLATION CITED : District Court Act 1973 Law of Property Act 1925 (Eng) Supreme Court Act 1970 Action Strength Limited v International Glass Engineering IN. GL. EN. SpA [2003] UKHL 17 Alexander v Cambridge Credit Corporation Ltd (Receivers Appointed) (1985) 2 NSWLR 685 Angell v Duke (1875) LR 10 QB 174 Arnold v National Westminster Bank Plc [1989] 1 Ch 63 Arnold v National Westminster Bank Plc [1991] 2 AC 93 Baloglow v Konstantinidis [2001] NSWCA 451 Birmingham v Renfrew (1937) 57 CLR 666 Blair v Curran (1939) 62 CLR 464 Boston v Boston [1904] 1 KB 124 Brown v Robertson (1890) 16 VLR 786 Cachia v Isaacs (1985) 3 NSWLR 366 Carter v Northmore Hale Davy & Leake (1995) 183 CLR 121 Cocking v Ward (1845) 1 CB 858 Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Limited (1997) 188 CLR 501 Cooke v Rickman [1911] 2 KB 1125 Cromwell v County of Sac (1876) 94 US 351 Cuzeno Pty Ltd v Powercell Pty Ltd [1999] NSWCA 344 Dalgety & Co Ltd v Gray (1919) 26 CLR 249 Daulia Ltd v Four Millbank Nominees Ltd [1978] Ch 231 Frost v Knight (1872) LR 7 Ex 111 Giumelli v Giumelli (1999) 196 CLR 101 Hadley v Baxendale (1854) 9 Ex 341; 156 ER 145 Henderson v Henderson (1843) 3 Hare 100; 67 ER 313 Hoffman v Cali (1985) 1 QdR 253 Horsey v Graham (1862) LR 5 CP 9 Horton v Jones (1935) 53 CLR 475 Howlett v Tarte (1861) 10 CBNS 813; 142 ER 673 Hoysted v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1921) 29 CLR 537 Hoysted v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1926] AC 155 CASES CITED : Humphries v Humphries [1910] 2 KB 531 Johnson v Perez (1988) 166 CLR 351 Jones v Baker [2002] NSWSC 89; (2002) 10 BPR 19,115 Kelly v Webster (1852) 12 CB 283 Lees v Fleming [1980] QdR 162 Linsley v Petrie [1998] 1 VLR 427 Mainline Investments Pty Ltd v Davlon Pty Ltd [1969] 2 NSWR 392 Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638 Mraz v The Queen (No.2) (1956) 96 CLR 62 O'Rourke v Hoeven [1974] 1 NSWLR 622 O'Toole v Charles David Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 232 Pollnow v Armstrong [2000] NSWCA 245 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589 Queensland v The Commonwealth (1977) 139 CLR 585 R v Inhabitants of the Township of Hartington Middle Quarter (1855) 4 El & Bl 780; 119 ER 288 R v Storey (1978) 140 CLR 364 Radford v de Froberville [1977] 1 WLR 1262 Redken Laboratories (Aust) Pty Ltd v Docker (No.2) [2000] NSWCA 235 Riches v Hogben [1986] 1 QdR 315 Rogers v R (1994) 181 CLR 251 Selkirk v Romar Investments Limited [1963] 1 WLR 1415 Somodaj v Australian Iron and Steel Ltd (1963) 109 CLR 285 Thoday v Thoday [1964] P 181 Tiufino v Warland [2000] NSWCA 110; (2000) 50 NSWLR 104 Vogan & Co v Oulton (1898) 79 LT 384 Waddington v Silver Chain Nursing Association (1998) 20 WAR 269 Waterford v The Commonwealth (1987) 163 CLR 54 Wright v Madden [1992] 1 QdR 343 Wroth v Tyler [1974] Ch 30 Yates Property Corporation Pty Ltd v Boland [2000] FCA 1106; (2000) 179 ALR 664 PARTIES : Powercell Pty Limited - Plaintiff Cuzeno Pty Limited - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 3592/97 COUNSEL : J M Ireland QC; C Dimitriadis - Plaintiff T G R Parker; R E Steele - Defendant SOLICITORS : Willis & Bowring - Plaintiff Michie Shehadie & Co - Defendant