Chapman v. Taylor & Ors; Vero Insurance Ltd. v. Taylor & Ors. [2004] NSWCA 456

Reported Decision : (2005) Aust Contract Reports 90-205

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Chapman v. Taylor & Ors; Vero Insurance Ltd. v. Taylor & Ors. [2004] NSWCA 456 HEARING DATE(S) : 15 November 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 13 December 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Beazley JA at 1; Hodgson JA at 2; Tobias JA at 47 DECISION : CA40120/04: 1. Appeal allowed 2. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor to pay Mr. Chapman's costs of the appeal, and to have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act if otherwise eligible. 3. Order of Master set aside, and in lieu thereof order that the summons be dismissed with costs; CA41106/03: 1. Leave to appeal granted. 2. Notice of Appeal to be filed within 7 days. 3. Appeal allowed.

CATCHWORDS : CONTRACTS - Building and construction - Frustration of contract - Builder suffers brain injury which causes him to be in a coma for 5 weeks and unable to undertake or supervise work for about 5 months - Whether contract frustrated - Whether error of law by CTTT - Whether home building insurance applies - Inadequacy in provisions of Home Building Act. LEGISLATION CITED : Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal Act 2001 s.67 Home Building Act 1989 ss.4, 7, 12, 13, 16, 18B, 18G, 99 Brisbane City Council v. Group Projects Pty. Ltd. (1979) 145 CLR 143 Codelfa Construction Pty. Ltd. v. State Rial Authority (1982) 149 CLR 337 Davis Contractors Ltd. v. Fareham Urban District Council [1956] AC 696 Freeman v. Defence Force Retirement & Death Benefits Authority (1985) 5 AAR 156 CASES CITED : Lennell v. Repatriation Commission (1982) 4 ALN N54 Lobb v. Vasey Housing Auxiliary (War Widows Guild) [1963] VR 239 Politis v. Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1988) 16 ALD 707 Scanlan's New Neon Ltd. v. Tooheys Ltd. (1943) 67 CLR 169 Simmons Ltd. v. Hay [1964-5] NSWR 416 David Neil Chapman - appellant PARTIES : Ernest & Fredericka Taylor - 1st respondents Vero Insurance Ltd. - 2nd respondent Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal - 3rd respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40120/04; 41106/03 Dr. J. Azzi for 1st appellant COUNSEL : Mr. M.S. Jacobs QC with Mr. P.J. Bambagiotti for 2nd appellant Mr. S.R. Donaldson SC with Mr. Carolan for respondents Herbert Weller, Windsor for appellant SOLICITORS : G.P. Bartels, Eastwood for 1st respondent McLachlan Chilton, Sydney for 2nd respondent Robert Ellis, Crown Solicitor's Office, Sydney for 3rd respondent