Eko Investments Pty Limited v Austruc Constructions Limited & Ors; The Owners Strata Plan No 64970 v Austruc Constructions Limited & Ors [2009] NSWSC 208

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Eko Investments Pty Limited v Austruc Constructions Limited & Ors; The Owners Strata Plan No 64970 v Austruc Constructions Limited & Ors [2009] NSWSC 208 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 16 and 17 February 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 31 March 2009

JURISDICTION : Equity Division - Technology & Construction List

JUDGMENT OF : Bergin CJ in Eq

DECISION : Some aspects of Referee's Report adopted.

CATCHWORDS : [REFEREES] - Development of practice of referring the whole of proceedings to retired judicial officers - [REFEREES' REPORTS] - Principles applicable to review of referees' reports in which errors of law are alleged - challenge to conclusions reached upon arhcitects responsibility in respect of building which leaked - whether report should be adopted - [PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS] - whether referee should have provided opportunity to affected party to make submissions in relation to approach taken by referee outside aspects of pleaded case

Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW) s 62 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 R 20.14, 20.24 Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) s 18B House Contracts Guarantee Act 1987 (Vic) LEGISLATION CITED : Local Government Act 1958 (Vic) Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic) Customs Act 1901 (Cth) s 214 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 138 Limitation Act 1969 s 14(1)

Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 16, (2004) 216 CLR 515 Xuereb & Anor v Viola & Ors (1989) 18 NSWLR 453 Beveridge & Anor v Dontan Pty Ltd (1991) 23 NSWLR 13 Super Pty Ltd (formerly known as LEDA Constructions Pty Ltd) v SJP Formwork (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 29 NSWLR 549 Ryde City Council v Tourtouras [2007] NSWCA 218 Homebush Abattoir Corporation v Bermria Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 605 Zumpano v Montagnese [1997] 2 VR 525 Moorabool Shire Council v Taitapanui (2004) VSC 239 CASES CITED : Pullen v Gutteridge, Haskins & Davey Pty Limited [1993] 1 VR 27 Scarcella v Lettice (2000) 51 NSWLR 302 Owners of Strata Plan 50946 v Multiplex Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 377 Ridis v Proprietors of Strata Plan 10308 [2005] NSWCA 246 Seiwa Pty Ltd v Owners Strata Plan 35042 [2006] NSWSC 1157 Owners SP 35042 v Seiwa Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 272 Pantorno v R (1989) 166 CLR 466 Parker v Comptroller-General of Customs [2009] HCA 7 (12 February 2009) In the matter of Lawrence Charles O'Neill, unreported, District Court of New South Wales, 18 August 1988, Dunford DCJ