Powercell Pty Ltd v Cuzeno Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 51

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Powercell Pty Ltd v Cuzeno Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 51 HEARING DATE(S) : 25 February 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 12 March 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Giles JA at 2; Santow JA at 84 DECISION : Appeal dismissed. Appellant pay the costs of the appeal.

CATCHWORDS : Joint venture - appellant sold home units off the plan - agreement terminating joint venture - respondent to take over as vendor under the contracts with the purchasers - whether agreed to take over all the contracts or only some - on facts, held all the contracts - whether agreement so far as concerned taking over as vendor unenforceable in an action for damages by force of s 54A of the Conveyancing Act 1919 - whether not a contract for sale of land because no sale between appellant and respondent or because respondent not obliged to take over a contract if a purchaser did not want to proceed - held unenforceable - whether respondent estopped from relying on s 54A - whether an equitable estoppel without appellant being caused to assume that respondent would not rely on s 54A - whether estoppel only from the making of the agreement - held no estoppel. Actionstrength Ltd v International Glass Engineering IN.GL.EN SpA (203) 2 AC 541; Birmingham v Renfrew (1937) 57 CLR 666; Brown v Robertson (1890) 16 VLR 786; Collin v Holden (1989) VR 510; Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394; Cuzeno Pty Ltd v Powercell Pty Ltd [1999] NSWCA 344; Dale v Hamilton (1846) 5 Hare 369; 67 ER 955; Dalgety & Co Ltd v Gray (1919) 26 CLR 249; De Nichols v Curlier (1900) 2 Ch 410; Forster v Hale (1800) 5 Ves 308; 31 ER 604; Gray v Dalgety & Co Ltd (1916) 21 CLR 509; Hawkesworth v Turner (1930) 46 TLR 389; CASES CITED : Hodgson v Johnson (1858) EB & E; 120 ER 666; Horsey v Graham (1869) LR 5 CP 9; Horton v Jones (1935) 53 CLR 475; J C Williamson Ltd v Lukey and Mulholland (1931) 45 CLR 282; Kilpatrick v Mackay (1878) 4 VLR (E) 28; Lees v Fleming (1980) Qd R 162; O'Rourke v Hoeven (1974) 1 NSWLR 622; PMT Partners Pty Ltd (in liquidation) v Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service (1955) 184 CLR 301; Powercell v Cuzeno [2003] NSWSC 600; Ramsden v Dyson (1865) LR 1 HL 129; Riches v Hogben (1985) 2 Qd R 292 (McPherson J); (1986) 1 Qd R 515 (Full Court); Thomas v Williams (1830) 10 B & C 664; 109 ER 597; Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387; PARTIES : Powercell Pty Ltd - Appellant Cuzeno Pty Ltd - Respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40768/03 COUNSEL : J Ireland SC & C Dimitriadis - Appellant T G R Parker & R E Steel - Respondent SOLICITORS : Willis & Bowring, Miranda - Appellant Michie Shehadie & Co - Respondent