RICHARDS v CORNFORD [2010] NSWCA 99

Reported Decision: 76 NSWLR 572

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: RICHARDS v CORNFORD [2010] NSWCA 99

HEARING DATE(S): 5 May 2010

JUDGMENT DATE: 10 May 2010

JUDGMENT OF: Allsop ACJ at 1; McColl JA at 2; Basten JA at 3

(1) Allow the appeal and set aside order 4, being a judgment for the plaintiff in an amount of $772,818. DECISION: (2) In place of order 4, give judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $959,670 to date from 7 May 2009. (3) Order that the respondents pay the appellant's costs of the appeal.

CATCHWORDS: COURTS - civil - District Court of New South Wales - jurisdiction - amount claimed in excess of jurisdictional limit - whether amount must be specified - whether in statement of claim or particulars - whether jurisdiction extended by lack of objection - PROCEDURE - pleading amount claimed - not permitted where claim for unliquidated damages - STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – ambiguous provisions – consent jurisdiction under District Court Act 1973 (NSW) s 51 – whether notice of a claim in excess of the jurisdictional limit must be given in the statement of claim - WORDS & PHRASES - "amount claimed" - "jurisdictional limit"

Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), 23 LEGISLATION CITED: District Court Act 1973 (NSW), ss 4, 44, 49, 50, 51, 76 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 14.13, Pt 14

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Bebe v Woolworths Ltd (unrep, 11 July 2008) CASES CITED: Mannai Investments Co Ltd v Eagle Star Life Assurance Co Ltd [1997] AC 749 Nichols v Patrick Stevedoring Co Pty Ltd [1979] 2 NSWLR 457 Woodward Pty Ltd v Kelleher [1989] NSWCA 82

Danielle Richards (Appellant) PARTIES: Ian Cornford (First Respondent) Taringha House Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd (Third Respondent)