LUCANTONIO v. CIOFULI [2003] NSWSC 1058

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : LUCANTONIO v. CIOFULI [2003] NSWSC 1058 revised - 24/02/2004 HEARING DATE(S) : 17, 18 & 19/09/2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 21 November 2003 JURISDICTION: EQUITY JUDGMENT OF : Bryson J at 1 DECISION : Judgment for the defendant with costs [91]

CATCHWORDS : VENDOR and PURCHASER - recovery of deposit - discretion of Court to order repayment of deposit - purchaser bought after advertisement &c. notified "DA Approval" - purchaser sought compensation on ground that development as approved was not feasible - no contractual warranty - on review of extensive expert evidence it was found that development was feasible and difficulties were not abnormal for development project - on review of circumstances, the Court declined relief against forfeiture of the deposit under s.55(2A) CA 1919. Conveyancing Act 1919 Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930 LEGISLATION CITED : Disability Discrimination Act 1992 Fair Trading Act 1987 Law of Property Act 1925 (U.K.) Supreme Court Act 1970 AA Jones & Son Pty Ltd v. Weeden [1964-5] NSWR 1780 Bernard & Anor v. Weingarth & Anor (1997) 8 BPR [15,651] Butcher v. Lachlan Elder Realty [2002] NSWCA 237 Carpenter v. McGrath (1996) 40 NSWLR 39 Clarke v. Dilberovic (1982) NSW Conv R 55-083 CASES CITED : Delgado v. Walker Developments Pty Ltd (Bryson J 18 July 1989 unreported) Lucas & Tait (Investments) Pty Ltd v. Victoria Securities Ltd [1973] 2 NSWLR 268 Pratt v. Hawkins (1991) 32 NSWLR 319 at 323 - 325 Romanos v. Pentagold Investments Pty Ltd [2003] HCA 58 Terry v. Permanent Trustee Australia Ltd (1995) 6 BPR [14,091] at 14,106-14,107 Universal Corporation v. Five Ways Properties [1979] 1 All ER 552 Wilson v. Kingsgate Mining Industry Pty Ltd [1973] 2 NSWLR 713 PARTIES : Dean Paul Lucantonio and Paulette Lucantonio (P) Lucia Ciofuli (D) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 6073/2001 COUNSEL : D.L. Warren (P) M.L. Brabazon & M. Hirshorn (D) SOLICITORS : Otto Stichter & Associates (P) Christopher Balomatis (D)