Bellevarde Constructions Pty Ltd v CPC Energy Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 228

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Bellevarde Constructions Pty Ltd v CPC Energy Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 228

HEARING DATE(S): 29 July 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 25 September 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Spigelman CJ at 1; Allsop P at 1; Campbell JA at 63

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: CONTRACT – Cost-plus contract – Authorised subcontractor – Where subcontractor a related company – Cost of services by subcontractor - DAMAGES – Claim in tort of deceit and misleading conduct – Loss pursuant to contract only – Relevance of contractual loss to breach of tort or statute - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Referees' report – Review and adoption of report – Exercise of discretion – Appeals – Principles to be applied

Australian Constitution LEGISLATION CITED: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)

Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Buckley v Bennell Design Constructions Pty Ltd (1978) 140 CLR 1 Chloride Batteries Australia Ltd v Glendale Chemical Products Pty Ltd (1988) 17 NSWLR 60 Chocolate Factory Apartments Pty Ltd v Westpoint Finance Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 784 Coulton v Holcombe (1980) 162 CLR 1 CASES CITED: CPC Energy Pty Ltd v Bellevarde Constructions Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1397 Foxman Holdings Pty Ltd v NMBE Pty Ltd (1994) 38 NSWLR 615 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Nicholls v Stamer [1980] VR 479 Super Pty Ltd v SJP Formwork (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 29 NSWLR 549 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418 White Constructions (NT) Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia (1990) 7 BCL 193