Abacus Funds Management Ltd v Davenport [2003] NSWSC 935

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Abacus Funds Management Ltd v Davenport [2003] NSWSC 935 HEARING DATE(S) : 16 October 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 20 October 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J DECISION : Interlocutory injunction restraining a contractor from seeking and enforcing an adjudication determination or obtaining an adjudication certificate granted pending an application for an order in the nature of certiorari quashing the adjudicator's determination for error of law on the face of the determination. Injunction conditional upon the plaintiff paying the adjudication amount less the amount in contention together with interest to the contractor and paying the amount in contention into court within five business days.

CATCHWORDS : ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Prerogative Writs and Orders - Whether an order in the nature of certiorari lies against an adjudicator's determination under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 - Whether interlocutory relief should be granted Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Act 1970 Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Amendment Act 2002 Paynter Dixon Constructions Pty Ltd v JF & CG Tilston Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 869 Parist Holdings Pty Ltd v WT Partnership Australia Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 365 Parist Holdings Pty Ltd v WT Partnership Australia Pty Ltd (unreported, 16 May 2003, NSWSC) R v Hickman; Ex parte Fox and Clinton (1945) 70 CLR 598 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Richard Walter Pty Ltd (1994-1995) 183 CLR 168 CASES CITED : Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth (2003) 77 ALJR 454 Craig v South Australia (1994-1995) 184 CLR 163 R v Northumberland Compensation Appeal Tribunal; Ex parte Shaw [1952] 1 KB 338 R v Tennant; Ex parte Woods [1962] Qd R 241 Public Service Board (NSW) v Osmond (1986) 159 CLR 656 Aronson and Dyer, Judicial Review of Administrative Action, Law Book Company, Sydney, 2000 Abacus Funds Management Ltd - Plaitniff PARTIES : Phillip Davenport - 1st Defendant Renascent Interiors & Refurbishers Pty Ltd - 2nd Defendant Adjudicate Today - 3rd Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 4364/03 COUNSEL : T Davie - Plaintiff M Christie - 2nd Defendant SOLICITORS : Colin Biggers & Paisley - Plaintiff Clayton Utz - 2nd Defendant