Debus v Hewitt [2003] NSWSC 176

Reported Decision : (2003) NSW ConvR 56-054

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Debus v Hewitt [2003] NSWSC 176 HEARING DATE(S) : 11 March, 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 11 March 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity Division JUDGMENT OF : Palmer J DECISION : Declaration that contract validly rescinded by Plaintiff - Defendant ordered to repay amount paid by Plaintiff under contract together with interest.

CATCHWORDS : VENDOR AND PURCHASER - INSTALMENT CONTRACT - TIME OF ESSENCE - NOTICE TO COMPLETE - Contract for sale of share in company giving right to occupy land - purchase price payable by instalments over long period - substantial payments made by purchaser - purchaser defaults in payment of some instalments - vendor terminates - whether contract impliedly made time for payment of essence - whether notice making time of essence required - construction of contract - hallmarks of time of essence provision - hallmarks of notice making time of essence. HELD: Contract did not make time of essence by implication - notice of intention to terminate not a notice making time of essence - vendor wrongfully repudiated and purchaser validly rescinded - purchaser entitled to repayment of money paid under contract. - McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Limited (1933) 48 CLR 457 CASES CITED : - Neeta (Epping) Pty Ltd v Phillips (1974) 131 CLR 286 - Park v Brothers (2001) 10 BPR 18,649 PARTIES : Catherine Debus - Plaintiff Melissa Anne Hewitt - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 4862/02 COUNSEL : M. Ryckmans (Sol) - Plaintiff T.H. Barrett - Defendant SOLICITORS : Abbott Tout - Plaintiff Ellis & Baxter - Defendant