Owners of Strata Plan 64622 v Australand Corporation Pty Ltd & anor [2009] NSWSC 614

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Owners of Strata Plan 64622 v Australand Corporation Pty Ltd & anor [2009] NSWSC 614

HEARING DATE(S) : 29 May 2009 JURISDICTION : Equity Division Technology & Construction List

JUDGMENT OF : Brereton J

EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE : 29 May 2009

DECISION : Affidavit not to be adduced in reference

CATCHWORDS : PROCEDURE - where matter referred to referee for report on issues of liability and quantum - where defendants seek to adduce on reference evidence of "without prejudice" communications - where plaintiff seeks order excluding such evidence from the reference - whether Court should determine matters or leave it to referee. Held: Court should intervene. EVIDENCE - whether material protected by without prejudice privilege - whether exceptions in s 131(2) of the (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 apply - Held: overtly "open" offers were excluded from protection by s 131(2)(d) – other exceptions were not attracted – affidavit excluded from reference

(NSW) Evidence Act 1995 s 131, s 131(2), 131(2)(a), 131(2)(g) LEGISLATION CITED : (NSW) Home Building Act 1989, s 18(b) (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 20.14, r 20.17(1)(c), r 20.20(1), r 20.20(2)(b), r 20.21

CATEGORY : Procedural and other rulings

Owners Strata Plan 64622 (plaintiff) PARTIES : Australand Constructions Pty Ltd (first defendant) Australand Corporation (NSW) Pty Ltd (second defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 55015/06

COUNSEL : Mr F P Hicks (plaintiff) Mr S A Kerr (defendants)

SOLICITORS : Dibbs Abbott Stillman (plaintiff) Mallesons Stephen Jaques (defendants)