The Owners Corporation of Strata Plan 61390 v Multiplex Corporate Agency Pty Limited and Ors (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 322

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Owners Corporation of Strata Plan 61390 v Multiplex Corporate Agency Pty Limited and Ors (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 322 Hearing dates: 27 and 30 March and 5 April 2012 Decision date: 05 April 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Technology and Construction List Before: Pembroke J Decision: Application dismissed Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE - separate question - obligation to take interventionist role - effect of Civil Procedure Act 2005 - overriding purpose intersects with usual warnings about dangers of separate questions CONTRACT - deed of release - Grant v John Grant & Sons (1954) 91 CLR 112 - construction - general words of release confined to subject matter of dispute - limited by recitals and other admissible evidence EQUITY - deed of release - Grant v John Grant & Sons (1954) 91 CLR 112 - equitable principle - unconscientious reliance on legal rights - general words of release confined to true purpose of transaction EVIDENCE - deed of release - Grant v John Grant & Sons (1954) 91 CLR 112 - equity permits consideration of state of knowledge of parties concerning existence, character and extent of liability in question [including] actual intention of releasor BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION - notorious likelihood of future claims - plaintiff advised by specialist construction litigation solicitors - probative value of evidence of lack of awareness of claims - desirability of evidence from plaintiff's solicitor Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Home Building Act 1989 Cases Cited: Butler v St John of God Health Care Inc [2008] WASCA 174 Codelfa Constructions Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of NSW (1982) 149 CLR 337 Fraser v Irish Restaurant & Bar Co Pty Ltd [2008] QCA 270 Grant v John Grant & Sons Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 112 Integral Home Loans Pty Ltd v Interstar Wholesale Finance Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1464 Karam v ANZ Banking Group Ltd [2011] NSWSC 709 Knight v Cole (1690) 3 Lev 273; 83 ER 686 Lampon v Corke (1822) 5 B & Ald 606; 106 ER 1312 Lindo v Lindo (1839) 1 Beav 496 Payler v Homersham (1815) 4 M & S 423 Playcorp Group of Companies Pty Ltd v Peter Bodum [2010] FCA 23 Qantas Airways Ltd v Gubbins (1992) 28 NSWLR 26 Salkeld v Vernon (1758) 1 Eden 64 Seidler v University of NSW [2011] FCA 830 Snowy Mountains Organic Dairy Products Pty Ltd v Wholefoods Pty Ltd [2008] VSC 405 Tepko Pty Ltd v Water Board (2001) 206 CLR 1 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165; [2004] HCA 52 Western Export Services Inc v Jireh International Pty Ltd [2011] HCA 45 Category: Separate question Parties: The Owners Corporation of Strata Plan 61390 - plaintiff Multiplex Corporate Agency Pty Limited - first defendant Multiplex Limited - second defendant Colonial Financial Corporation Limited - third defendant Pia Francesca Design Pty Limited - sixth defendant WSP Lincolne Scott Pty Limited - seventh defendant Representation: Counsel: J Simpkins SC with J J Young - for the plaintiff J Stoljar SC with T J Breakspear - for the first and second defendant S R Donaldson SC with M P Elliott - for the third defendant D Miller SC - for the sixth defendant B McManus - for the seventh defendant Solicitors: Colin Biggers and Paisley - for the plaintiff Watson Mangioni Lawyers Pty Limited - for the first and second defendants Henry Davis York - for the third defendant Wotton + Kearney - for the sixth defendant Kennedys - for the seventh defendant File Number(s): 2005/00270936