Kelly v Ollis [2003] NSWSC 1032

Reported Decision : (2005) NSW ConvR 56-101

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Kelly v Ollis [2003] NSWSC 1032 HEARING DATE(S) : 30/10/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 7 November 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity Division JUDGMENT OF : Young CJ in Eq DECISION : The rectification suit is dismissed, thus the plaintiff's suit for specific performance succeeds.

CATCHWORDS : EQUITY [76]- Remedies- Rectification- Vendor's solicitor failed to insert date for completion- The contract was intended to be adjusted in light of an election by the purchaser to undertake subdivision work- Contract was not so adjusted- Neither vendor nor purchaser, nor their lawyers, read the contract before signing it- Whether there was an operative mistake- Circumstances in which a court will rectify an instrument- On facts insufficient evidence that purchaser made any mistake- Vendor's mistake was in signing off on the contract without adjusting it- Not a case of an agreement which was mistranscribed- How far vendor's negligence a discretionary defence. Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd v Austarama Television Pty Ltd [1972] 2 NSWLR 467 Ball v Storie (1823) 1 Sim & St 210; 57 ER 84 Budget Stationery Supplies Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd (1996) 7 BPR 14,891 Commissioner of Stamp Duties (NSW) v Carlenka Pty Ltd (1995) 41 NSWLR 329 Hooker Town Developments Pty Ltd v Director of War Service Homes (1973) 47 ALJR 320 Katsaounis v Belehris [1995] ANZ ConvR 114 MacKenzie v Coulson (1869) LR 8 Eq 368 CASES CITED : Monaghan County Council v Vaughan [1948] Ir R 306 Nicolene Ltd v Simmonds [1953] 1 QB 543 Re Freehouse Pty Ltd (1997) 26 ACSR 662 Shellburne (Countess) v Inchiquin (Earl) (1784) 1 Bro CC 338; 28 ER 1166 Tanwar Enterprises Pty Ltd v Cauchi (2003) 201 ALR 359 Taylor v Johnson (1983) 151 CLR 422 Thomas Bates & Son Ltd v Wyndham's (Lingerie) Ltd [1981] 1 WLR 505 Weeds v Blaney [1978] 2 EGLR 84 Whiteside v Whiteside [1950] Ch 65 PARTIES : Lindsay Malcolm Kelly (P) Victor Warren Ollis (D) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 4274/03 COUNSEL : M Ashhurst (P) R Parsons (D) SOLICITORS : Clayton Utz (P) Whitelaw McDonald (D)