Carrapetta v Rado [2012] NSWCA 202

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Carrapetta v Rado [2012] NSWCA 202 Hearing dates: 20 June 2012 Decision date: 03 July 2012 Before: Beazley JA at [1]; Barrett JA at [2]; Hoeben JA at [75] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed. 2. That the appellants pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: CONVEYANCING - completion of contract - time for completion - time of the essence - by notice given - when notice to complete may be given - notice given by vendor - purchasers in default through failure to complete on specified completion date - contract requires payment of interest on balance of purchase moneys - uncertainty as to applicable rate of interest - where vendor before giving notice to complete reserves rights concerning calculation of interest and states that she relies on the contract - vendor later submits a settlement statement containing interest amount arguably inconsistent with the contract - whether that subsequent action affects the validity of the notice to complete - observations on the status and purpose of a settlement statement submitted by one party to the other. Cases Cited: Blacktown City Council v Fitzgerald (1990) 6 BPR 13409 Carne v Debono [1988] 1 WLR 1107 Kraguljac v A & B Property Developments Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] SASC 1 Louinder v Leis [1982] HCA 28; (1982) 149 CLR 509 Malouf v Sterling Estates Development Corporation Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 920 McNally v Waitzer [1981] 1 NSWLR 294 Neeta (Epping) Pty Ltd v Phillips [1974] HCA 18; (1974) 131 CLR 286 Oakglade Investments Ltd v Dhand [2012] EWCA Civ 286 Paclyn Pty Ltd v GP Harris Real Estate Pty Ltd (1987) 4 BPR 9267 Schindler v Pigault (1975) 30 P & CR 328 Sterling Estates Development Corporation Pty Ltd v Malouf [2003] NSWCA 278; (2003) 58 NSWLR 685 Texts Cited: R M Stonham, "The Law of Vendor and Purchaser" (1964) P J Butt, "The Standard Contract for Sale of Land in New South Wales" (second edition, 1998) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Frank Charles Carrapetta - First Appellant Lucy Maree Carrapetta - Second Appellant Denise Amber Carrapetta - Third Appellant Margaret Ann Rado - Respondent Representation: Mr R A Parsons - Appellants Mr M W Hadley - Respondent V L Macri Lawyers - Appellants Schweizer Kobras - Respondent File Number(s): 2012/00095244 Decision under appeal Before: Nicholas J File Number(s): 2012/00030874