Helmos Enterprises Pty Ltd v Jaylor Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 235

Reported Decision : (2005) Aust Contract Reports 90-215

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Helmos Enterprises Pty Ltd v Jaylor Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 235

HEARING DATE(S): 13/04/05

JUDGMENT DATE: 8 July 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Hodgson JA at 1; Young CJ in Eq at 21; Stein AJA at 160

DECISION: Orders: (1) Appeal allowed with costs; (2) Orders of Brownie AJ set aside; (3) Cross appeal dismissed with costs; (4) Remit issue of quantum of damages to the Equity Division; (5) Costs of the first trial referred to the Judge or Associate Justice who hears the second trial.

CATCHWORDS: CONTRACT-Commercial contracts- Plaintiff seeking to purchase two restaurants- First purchase completed- Second purchase not completed- Seven aspects of deal unclear- In circumstances contract in fourth class of Masters v Cameron- How court deals with problems of incomplete contract.

Liquor Act 1982 LEGISLATION CITED: Retail Leases Act 1994, ss 39, 41, 41A Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)

Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVth Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 Balfour v Balfour [1919] 2 KB 57 Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd v GR Securities Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 622 Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd v Pace (1988) 15 NSWLR 130 British Bank for Foreign Trade Ltd v Novinex Ltd [1949] 1 KB 623 Chillingworth v Esche [1924] 1 Ch 97 City of Box Hill v E W Tauschke Pty Ltd [1974] VR 39 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v G H Dean & Co Pty Ltd [1983] 2 Qd R 204 Corpers (No 664) Pty Ltd v NZI Securities Australia Ltd [1989] ANZ ConvR 548 Custom Credit Corporation Ltd v Cenepro Pty Ltd (NSWCA, unreported, 7.8.1991) Edwards v Skyways Ltd [1964] 1 WLR 349 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc (2002) 209 CLR 95 Fitzgerald v F J Leonhardt Pty Ltd (1997) 189 CLR 215 Godecke v Kirwan (1973) 129 CLR 629 GR Securities Pty Ltd v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 631 Gregory v Mighell (1811) 18 Ves 328; 34 ER 341 Hall v Busst (1960) 104 CLR 206 CASES CITED: Hillas & Co Ltd v Arcos Ltd (1932) 147 LT 503 Mamidoil-Jetoil Greek Petroleum Co SA v Okta Crude Oil Refinery AD [2001] 2 Lloyd's Rep 76 Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 May & Butcher Ltd v The King (1929) [1934] 2 KB 17n National Engineering Pty Ltd v Chilco Enterprises Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 291 Pagnan SpA v Feed Products Ltd [1987] 2 Lloyd's Rep 601; [1987] 2 Lloyd's Rep 615 (C/A) Perry v Suffields Ltd [1916] 2 Ch 187 Player v Isenberg [2002] NSWCA 186 Sinclair, Scott & Co Ltd v Naughton (1929) 43 CLR 310 Thorby v Goldberg (1964) 112 CLR 597 Toyota Motor Corp Australia Ltd v Ken Morgan Motors Pty Ltd [1994] 2 VR 106 Trawl Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v Effem Foods Pty Ltd (1992) 27 NSWLR 326 Triden Properties Ltd v Capita Financial Group Pty Ltd (C/A, unreported, 26.11.1993) Vitol BV v Compagnie Europeene des Petroles [1988] 1 Lloyd's Rep 574 Von Hatzfeldt-Wildenburg v Alexander [1912] 1 Ch 284 Vroon BV v Foster's Brewing Group Ltd [1994] 2 VR 32 York Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (Australasia) Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1949) 80 CLR 11