Le v Williams [2004] NSWSC 645

Reported Decision : (2005) NSW ConvR 56-109

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Le v Williams [2004] NSWSC 645 HEARING DATE(S) : 3 June 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 30 July 2004 JURISDICTION: Equity JUDGMENT OF : Campbell J DECISION : No claim which registered proprietor wishes to bring against tenant has been released except claim for rent. Registered proprietor not precluded from bringing other claims against tenant.

CATCHWORDS : CONTRACTS - release of cause of action by accord and satisfaction - construction of scope of release - INSURANCE - fire insurance - strata title home unit building - availability to individual lot proprietor of insurance of owners' corporation taken out pursuant to Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 to make good fire damage occurring within proprietor's lot - whether registered proprietor can sue tenant of home unit for damages when registered proprietor has had loss made good by insurer - whether insurer entitled to be subrogated to rights of registered proprietor against tenant - DAMAGES - general principles - whether receipt of indemnity from insurers precludes insured from suing person alleged to be wrongdoer who has caused damage Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED : Real Property Act 1900 Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 AFG Insurances Limited v City of Brighton (1972) 126 CLR 655 Australian Workers' Union v Bowen (1946) 72 CLR 575 Baltic Shipping Co v Merchant "Mikhail Lermontov" (1994) 36 NSWLR 361 Bradburn v Great Western Railway (1874) LR 10 Ex 1 Burgchard v Holroyd Municipal Council (1984) 2 NSWLR 164 Clark v Inhabitants of the Hundred of Blything (1823) 2 B & C 254; 107 ER 378 Driscoll v Driscoll (1918] 1 IR 152 Grant v John Grant & Sons Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 112 Harry S Bagg's Liquidation Warehouse Pty Ltd v Whittaker (1982) 44 NSWLR 421 Hobbs v Marlowe [1978] AC 16 Illawong Village Pty Limited v State Bank of New South Wales [2003] NSWSC 18 Knox Street Apartments v Roger Percival Flexman [2002] NSWSC 102 Lawrom Nominees Pty Ltd v Kingsmede Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 1048; (2000) 10 BPR 18,417 Lister v Romford Ice and Cold Storage Co Ltd [1957] AC 555 London and Southwestern Railway Co v Blackmore (1870) LR 4 HL 610 CASES CITED : Mark Rowlands Ltd v Berni Inns Ltd [1986] 1 QB 211 Mason v Sainsbury (1782) 3 Dougl 61; 99 ER 538 Morgan v Price (1849) 4 Ex 615 at 620 Morganite Ceramic Fibres Pty Ltd v Sola Basic Australia Ltd (1987) 11 NSWLR 189 The National Insurance Company of New Zealand Limited v Espagne (1961) 105 CLR 569 Newland v Nominal Defendant (Queensland) [1983] 1 Qd R 514 Parry v Cleaver [1970] AC 1 Richmond v Branson & Son [1914] 1 Ch 968 Russian Commercial and Industrial Bank v Comptoir d'Escompte de Mulhouse [1923] 2 KB 630 Russian Commercial and Industrial Bank v Comptoir d'Escompte de Mulhouse [1925] AC 112 Sola Basic Australia Limited v Morganite Ceramic Fibres Pty Ltd (NSWCA, 11 May 1989, unreported) Sydney Turf Club v Crowley [1971] 1 NSWLR 724 Sydney Turf Club v Crowley (1972) 126 CLR 420 Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd v Norcon Pty Ltd (2001) 11 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-509 Upton v Upton (1832) 1 Dow PC 400 The "Yasin" [1979] 2 Lloyd's Rep 45 Yates v Whyte (1838) 4 Bing (NC) 272; 132 ER 793 PARTIES : Uyen Le - Plaintiff Terence Lee Williams - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 5873/03 COUNSEL : C D Freeman; D J Jarrett - Plaintiff I McLachlan - Defendant SOLICITORS : Than & Co - Plaintiff McCulloch and Buggy - Defendant