Pollard v RRR Corporation Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 110

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Pollard v RRR Corporation Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 110 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 28 April 2009

JUDGMENT DATE: 15 May 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Ipp JA at 1; McColl JA at 2; Bryson AJA at 85

DECISION: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the orders made by Finnane DCJ on 5 October 2007. 3. Remit the matter to the District Court of New South Wales for a new trial. 4. Costs of the first trial to abide the event of the second trial. 5. Respondent to pay the appellants' costs of the appeal and to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 if otherwise entitled.

CATCHWORDS: APPEAL – appeal – proceedings to recover fees said to be due on wrongful termination of agreement – competing versions of making of agreement and its terms – ex tempore judgment – whether failure to give reasons for decision – extent of obligation to give reasons – adequacy of reasons - APPEAL – new trial – inadequate reasons – whether new trial should be ordered – whether evidence so compelling Court should not order new trial

LEGISLATION CITED: Suitors' Fund Act 1951

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Barrier Wharfs Ltd v W Scott Fell & Co Ltd [1908] HCA 88; (1908) 5 CLR 647 Beale v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (1997) 48 NSWLR 430 Bourke v Beneficial Finance Corp Ltd (1993) 47 FCR 264 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council [2001] NSWCA 61; (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc [2002] HCA 8; (2002) 209 CLR 95 Flannery v Halifax Estate Agencies Ltd t/as Colleys Professional Services [2000] 1 All ER 373 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Limited v Arsic [2006] NSWCA 187; (2006) 66 NSWLR 186 Hull v Thompson [2001] NSWCA 359 Hunter v Transport Accident Commission (2005) 43 MVR 130; [2005] VSCA 1 Jones v Bradley [2003] NSWCA 81 Maviglia v Maviglia [1999] NSWCA 188 Meates v Attorney-General [1983] NZLR 308 Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725 CASES CITED: Moylan v Nutrasweet Co [2000] NSWCA 337 Najdovski v Crnojlovic [2008] NSWCA 175 North Sydney Council v Ligon 302 Pty Ltd (1995) 87 LGERA 435 NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation (formerly Government Insurance Office (NSW)) v Mesiti (Court of Appeal, 1 December 1994, unreported) Pacific Carriers Limited v BNP Paribas [2004] HCA 35; (2004) 218 CLR 451 Palmer v Clarke (1989) 19 NSWLR 158 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; Ex parte Palme [2003] HCA 56; (2003) 216 CLR 212 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Limited (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (in liq) [1999] HCA 3; (1999) 73 ALJR 306 Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd v Massoud [1989] VR 8 TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v Anning [2002] NSWCA 82; (2002) 54 NSWLR 333 Vroon BV v Foster's Brewing Group [1994] 2 VR 32 Waterways Authority v Fitzgibbon; Mosman Municipal Council v Fitzgibbon; Middle Harbour Yacht Club v Fitzgibbon [2005] HCA 57; (2005) 79 ALJR 1816 Wright v Australian Broadcasting Commission [1977] 1 NSWLR 697 Yates Property Corporation Pty Limited (In Liq) v Darling Harbour Authority (1991) 24 NSWLR 156