Hall v Foster [2011] NSWSC 295

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hall v Foster [2011] NSWSC 295 Hearing dates: 28 February, 1, 2 and 3 March 2011 Decision date: 15 April 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Tamberlin AJ Decision: 1. Directs the parties to bring in short minutes of order to give effect to these reasons. 2. Orders the cross-claim be dismissed with costs. Catchwords: CONTRACT - sale of land - completion of contract conditional on registration of plan of subdivision - condition not satisfied -whether vendor fulfilled contractual requirement to use best reasonable endeavours to satisfy condition.

CONTRACT - best reasonable endeavours clause; meaning of - onus of proof.

CONTRACT - termination - rescission - whether contract validly rescinded for failure of condition. Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 93(1) Cases Cited: Earle Cameron (Industrial) Pty Ltd v Comprador Properties Pty Ltd (1987) 3 BPR 9657 Hawkins v Pender Bros Pty Ltd [1990] 1 Qd R 135 IBM United Kingdom Ltd v Rockware Glass Ltd [1980] FSR 335 Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd [1974] HCA 40; (1974) 131 CLR 634 Strati v Jag Investments Pty Ltd (1980) 1 BPR 9600 Wardy v Hardy [2002] NSWCA 215 Yeung v Desnor Pty Ltd (1989) 5 BPR 11,343 Texts Cited: Peter Butt, The Standard Contract for Sale of Land in New South Wales (1998, 2nd ed) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Julian Russell Hall (First Plaintiff) Emily Louise Hall (Second Plaintiff) Ronald William Foster (First Defendant) Heidi Marie Foster (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D H Murr SC with him J B Conomy (Plaintiffs) In Person (Defendants) Solicitors: Maguire & McInerney (Plaintiffs) In Person (Defendants) File Number(s): 2008/281699