African Minerals Limited v Pan Palladium Limited [2003] NSWSC 268

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : African Minerals Limited v Pan Palladium Limited [2003] NSWSC 268 revised - 15/04/2003 HEARING DATE(S) : 01/04/03, 02/04/03, 03/04/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 9 April 2003

JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List JUDGMENT OF : Einstein J DECISION : Summons to be dismissed. Costs to be argued.

CATCHWORDS : Contract - Construction - Conditions precedent proper versus conditions subsequent to performance - Uncertainty - Incompleteness - Relief - Declarations - Utility LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Act 1970 Air Great Lakes Pty Ltd v KS Easter (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1985) 2 NSWLR 309 Allen v Carbone (1975) 132 CLR 528 Anaconda Nickel Ltd v Tarmoola Australia Pty Ltd (2000) 22 WAR 101 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVTH Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australian Performing Right Association (1972) 129 CLR 99 Background Developments No.19 Pty Ltd v Downs Surgical (Aust) Pty Ltd [1974] 2 BPR 9141 Barrier Wharfs Ltd v W Scott Fell & Co Ltd (1908) 5 CLR 647 Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd v G R. Securities Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 622 Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd v Pace (1988) 15 NSWLR 130 Bohisa V Freedom [1999] NSWSC 817 Brambles Holdings Limited v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Brunninghausen v Galvanics (1999) 46 NSWLR 538 B Seppelt & Sons Ltd v Commissioner for Main Roads (1975) 1 BPR [97011] Bunge Corporation v Tradax SA, Panama [1981] 1 WLR 711 Codelfa Construction Pty Limited v State Rail Authority of NSW (1982) 149 CLR 337 FAI Traders Insurance Co Ltd v Savoy Plaza Pty Ltd [1993] 2 VR 343 Film Bars Pty Limited v Pacific Film Laboratories (1979) 1 BPR 9,251 Fitzgerald v Masters [1956] 95 CLR at 426 Gange v Sullivan (1966) 116 CLR 418 Godecke v Kirwan (1973) 129 CLR 629 Graham Evans Pty Ltd v Stencraft Pty Ltd 16 BCL 335 G R Securities Pty Ltd v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 631 Heysham Properties Pty Limited v Action Motor Group Pty Limited & Ors (1996) 14 BCL 145 Hide & Skin Trading v Oceanic Meat Traders Ltd (1990) 20 NSWLR 310 Hongkong Fir Shipping Co Ltd v Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd [1962] 2 QB 26 Howard Smith & Co Ltd v Varawa (1907) 5 CLR 68 Inland Revenue Commissioners v Raphael [1935] AC 96 In re Sandwell Park Colliery Co., [1929] 1 Ch. 277 International General Electric Co of New York Ltd v Customs and Excise Commissioners [1962] Ch 784 CASES CITED : Investors Compensation Scheme [1998] 1 WLR 896 Kofi-Sunkersette Obu v A Strauss & Co Ltd [1951] AC 243 Lakatoi Universal & Walker [2000] NSWSC 113 Landsmiths Pty Ltd v Hall [(1999) NSWSC 735 Love & Stewart Ltd v S Instone & Co Ltd (1917) 33 TLR 475 Maggbury Pty Limited v Hafele Australia Pty Limited (2001) 76 ALJR 246 Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 Meehan v Jones (1982) 149 CLR 571 Newmont Pty Ltd v Laverton Nickel NL [1983] 1 NSWLR 181 Perri v Coolangatta Investments Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 537 at 543, Placer Development Limited v Commonwealth (1969) 121 CLR 353 Prenn v Simmonds [1971] WLR 1381 Pobije Agencies Pty Ltd v Vinidex Tubemakers Pty Ltd [2000] NSWCA 105 Raguz v Sullivan (2000) 50 NSWLR 236 Reardon -Smith Line Ltd v Hansen-Tangen [1976] 1 WLR 989 Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust v South Sydney City Council (2002) 186 ALR 289 Ryan v Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia [1996] 2 VR 235 Sandra Investments Pty Ltd v Booth (1983) 153 CLR 153 Sinclair Scott Co Ltd v Naughton (1929) 43 CLR 310 Telstra Corporation Limited v Australis Media Holdings (1997) 24 ACSR 55 Tern Minerals NL v Kalbara Mining NL (1990) 3 WAR 486 Thorby v Goldberg (1964) 112 CLR 597 Total Gas v Arco British [1998] 2 Lloyds LR 209 Tramways Advertising Pty Ltd v Luna Park (NSW) Ltd (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 632 Tricontinental Corporation v HDFI Ltd (1990) 21 NSWLR 689 Trustee Executors and Agency Company Limited v Peters (1959) 102 CLR 557 at 549 Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd v M (1959) 100 United Dominions Trust (Commercial), Ltd v Eagle Aircraft Services, Ltd [1968] 1 WLR 74, [1968] 1 All ER 104 Upper Hunter County District Council v. Australian Chilling & Freezing Co. Limited (1968) 118 CLR 429 Wickman Machine Tool Sales Ltd. v L. Schuler A.G [1974] AC 235 PARTIES : African Minerals Limited (Plaintiff) Pan Palladium Limited (Defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50161/02 COUNSEL : Mr A J Meagher (SC), Mr M Darke (Plaintiff) Mr D J Hammerschlag (SC), Mr J G Duncan (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Minter Ellison (Plaintiff) Riley Ray-Spencer as agents for McCullough Robertson (Defendant)