Stockland (Constructors) Pty Limited & Anor v Darryl I Coombs & Ors [2004] NSWSC 333

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Stockland (Constructors) Pty Limited & Anor v Darryl I Coombs & Ors [2004] NSWSC 333 HEARING DATE(S) : 19/04/04, 20/04/04, 21/04/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 21 April 2004

JURISDICTION: Equity Division Technology & Construction List JUDGMENT OF : Einstein J DECISION : Final hearing vacated. Proceedings referred pursuant to Part 72 Supreme Court Rules.

CATCHWORDS : Practice and Procedure - Part 72 References - Principles - Final hearing date vacated where seamless transition to appropriately qualified expert practicable - Nature of technical issues identified - Just, quick and cheap determination of proceedings - Evidence Act 1995 - Section 78 - Admissibility of lay opinion evidence - Principles LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 Allstate Life Insurance Co v Australian & New Zealand Banking Group Limited (No 32) (1996) 64 FCR 73 Beveridge v Dontan Pty Ltd (1991) 23 NSWLR 13 Hughes Aircraft Systems International v Airservices Australia (No 3) (1998) ATPR 41-612 (Federal Court, Finn J) CASES CITED : Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Limited [2001] NSWSC 529 R v Harvey [NSWCCA, unreported, 11 December 1996, BC9605997] R v Leung and Anor (1999) 47 NSWLR 405 R v Panetta [NSWCCA, unreported, 2 October 1997, BC9704859] Unity Insurance Brokers Pty Limited v Rocco Pezzano Pty Limited (1998) 72 ALJR 937 Stockland (Constructors) Pty Limited (First Plaintiff) Stockland (Properties) Pty Limited (Second Plaintiff) PARTIES : Darryl I Coombs Pty Limited (First Defendant) Philip J Flook Pty Limited (Second Defendant) Retail Design Group (International) Pty Limited (Third Defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 55046/99 Mr DE Grieve QC, Mr P Dodson (Plaintiffs) COUNSEL : Mr IG Roberts (First and Second Defendant) Ms E Ollson SC (Third Defendant) Cohen & Krass (Plaintiffs) SOLICITORS : Minter Ellison (First and Second Defendants) James Legal Pty Limited (Third Defendant)