Donaldson Coal Pty Limited v Pacific National (NSW) Pty Limited [2007] NSWSC 1446

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Donaldson Coal Pty Limited v Pacific National (NSW) Pty Limited [2007] NSWSC 1446

HEARING DATE(S) : 10 December 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 14 December 2007

JURISDICTION : Equity Division Commercial List

JUDGMENT OF : Bergin J

DECISION : Declaration that the plaintiff and the defendant entered into a binding agreement. Order for specific performance.

CATCHWORDS : [CONTRACT] - Commercial setting - Export of coal from port with inadequate capacity to meet demand - Institution of co-operative arrangements to share the burden of the inadequacy - Whether parties entered into a binding agreement - "In principle agreement" - Meaning in context - [EQUITY] - Whether specific performance should be ordered.

LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)

Air Great Lakes Pty Limited v KS Easter (Holdings) Pty Limited (1985) 2 NSWLR 309 Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Limited v GR Securities Pty Limited (1986) 40 NSWLR 622 Brambles Holdings Limited v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Cumnock No 1 Colliery Pty Limited v Pacific Power [2002] NSWCA 278 CASES CITED : Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 McCann v Switzerland Insurance Australia Limited (2000) 203 CLR 579 Pacific Power & Elcom Collieries Pty Limited v Cumnock No 1 Colliery Pty Limited [2001] NSWSC 1100 Sinclair, Scott & Co Limited v Naughton (1929) 43 CLR 310 Stephenson v Dwyer [2006] NSWSC 1439 Toll (FGCT) Pty Limited v Alphapharm Pty Limited (2004) 219 CLR 165

PARTIES : Donaldson Coal Pty Limited - plaintiff Pacific National (NSW) Pty Limited - defendant