Igloo Homes Pty Ltd v Sammut Constructions Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 280

Reported Decision : (2006) Aust Contract Reports 90-227

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Igloo Homes Pty Ltd v Sammut Constructions Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 280

HEARING DATE(S): 17/08/05

JUDGMENT DATE: 29 November 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Santow JA at 1; Ipp JA at 2; Basten JA at 172

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: CONTRACT - intention of the parties - for the intention of an agent to be attributed to the principal, the agent must be acting with authority - rectification - whether by mutual mistake the parties' common intention has been incorrectly recorded in the written contract - the intention of the parties that is relevant is that existing at the moment the written contract was entered into - convincing proof, not mere suspicion, that the parties had a common intention at that time must be established. - APPEAL - overturning a trial judge's finding of fact which was based upon his or her assessment of the credibility of a witness - principle set out in Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 applies. ND

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED: Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), s 74P

Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167 Anglo-Scottish Beet Sugar Corporation Ltd v Spalding Urban District Council [1937] 3 All ER 335 Armstrong v Strain [1952] 1 KB 323 A Roberts & Co Ltd v Leicestershire Council [1961] Ch 555 Arthur Yates & Company Pty Ltd v Vegetable Seeds Committee (1945) 72 CLR 37 Australian Gypsum Ltd & Australian Plaster Company Ltd v Hume Steel Ltd (1930) 45 CLR 54 Blackburn Low & Company v Vigors (1887) 12 App Cas 531 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Chamberlain v Thornton (1892) 18 VLR 192 Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 Day v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 110 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 CASES CITED: Eighth SRJ Pty Ltd v Merity (unreported, BC 9701110, 25 March 1997) Fowler v Fowler (1859) 4 De G & J 250 Fox v Percy [2003] 214 CLR 118 Franich v Swannell (1993) 10 WAR 459 Hume v Walton [2005] NSWCA 148 Johns v Australian Securities Commission (1992) 35 FCR 146 Johnston v Arnaboldi (1990) 1 Qd R 138 Joscelyne v Nissen [1970] 2 QB 86 Kenny v Sholl (1905) 7 WALR 197 Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 728 Permanent Trustee Australia Co Ltd v FAI General Insurance Co Ltd (2001) 50 NSWLR 679 Riverlate Properties Ltd v Paul [1975] Ch 133 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (In Liq) (1999) 160 ALR 588