Kvaerner Oil & Gas Australia Pty Limited v Egis Consulting Australia Limited [2003] NSWSC 36

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Kvaerner Oil & Gas Australia Pty Limited v Egis Consulting Australia Limited [2003] NSWSC 36 HEARING DATE(S) : 3/02/03, 4/02/03, 5/02/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 12 February 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity Division JUDGMENT OF : Einstein J DECISION : Short Minutes of Order to be brought in

CATCHWORDS : Joint Venture - Liability to third party - Joint venture agreement entered into between plaintiff and defendant - Proceedings brought against joint venture in Victoria by third party - Counterclaim brought by joint venture against third party - Defendant assigned its benefit in counterclaim to plaintiff - Proceedings in Victoria settled - Principles of contribution - Construction of Joint Venture Agreement - Whether defendant liable to contribute 50 per cent of settlement sum - Whether liability of joint venture caused by plaintiff - Whether settlement of counterclaim used to set-off joint venture liability LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act 1974 (NSW) Albion Insurance Co. Ltd v Government Insurance Office (NSW) (1969) 121 CLR 342 Burke v LFOT Pty Ltd (2002) 187 ALR 612 CASES CITED : Dering v Earl of Winchelsea (1787) 29 ER 1184 IBM Australia Ltd v National Distribution Service Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 466 Mir Brothers Developments Pty Ltd v Atlantic Constructions Pty Ltd (1984) 1 BCL 80 Tailby v Official Receiver (1888) 13 App.Cas 523 Kvaerner Oil & Gas Australia Pty Limited (Plaintiff) PARTIES : Egis Consulting Australia Limited (Defendant) Storebrand Skadeforsikring AS (Second Cross Defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50136/00 COUNSEL : Mr B Coles QC, Mr M Ashhurst (Plaintiff and Second Cross Defendant) Mr C Gee QC, Mr N J Kidd (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Michael Samios (Plaintiff and Second Cross Defendant) Colin Biggers & Paisley (Defendant)