Macourt v Clark [2012] NSWCA 367

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Macourt v Clark [2012] NSWCA 367 Hearing dates: 24 September 2012 Decision date: 09 November 2012 Before: Beazley JA at [1]; Barrett JA at [2]; Tobias AJA at [12] Decision: (a) Appeal allowed. (b) Cross-appeal dismissed. (c) Set aside the orders made by Gzell J on 8 November 2011. (d) Direct the parties within 14 days of the publication of these reasons to file short minutes of order to reflect these reasons and within the same period to file and serve, if otherwise there is any dispute, written submissions not exceeding three pages on the issue of the costs of the trial and 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: DAMAGES - assisted reproductive technology practice - damages for breach of various warranties contained in the Deed relating to donor sperm - proper categorisation of the contract - whether the trial judge erred in not concluding that the respondent had fully mitigated her loss - whether the respondent avoided the loss she otherwise would have sustained by having to replace the non-compliant sperm by charging her patients for the cost of replacement sperm - whether the damages suffered by the respondent included the cost of maintaining the appellant's telephone service for six years COSTS - whether the respondent would have been entitled to indemnity costs if the award of damages was upheld in her favour Legislation Cited: Human Cloning for Reproduction and Other Prohibited Practices Act 2003 Human Tissue Act 1983 Sale of Goods Act 1923 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Alexander v Cambridge Credit Corp Ltd (1987) 9 NSWLR 310 Barakat v Bazdarova [2012] NSWCA 140 British Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co Ltd v Underground Electric Railways Company of London Ltd [1912] AC 673 Gagner Pty Ltd (t/as Indochine Cafe) v Canturi Corporation Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 413; (2009) 262 ALR 691 Golden Strait Corp v Nippon Yusen Kubishika Kaisha [2007] 2 WLR 691; [2007] 3 All ER 1 Hi-Fert Pty Ltd v Kiukiang Maritime Carriers Inc [2000] FCA 660; (2000) 173 ALR 263 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Hussey v Eels [1990] 2 QB 227 Johnson v Perez [1988] HCA 64; (1988) 166 CLR 351 Koch Marine Inc v D'Amica Societa di Navigazione ARL (1980) 1 Lloyd's Rep 75 Kuru v New South Wales [2008] HCA 26; (2008) 236 CLR 1 Maitland Hospital v Fisher (No 2) (1992) 27 NSWLR 721 Morgan v Johnson (1998) 44 NSWLR 578 McCrohan v Harith [2010] NSWCA 67 Monroe Schneider Associates (Inc) v No 1 Raberem Pty Ltd (1991) 33 FCR 1; (1991) 104 ALR 397 Nominal Defendant v Hawkins [2011] NSWCA 93; (2011) 58 MVR 362 Robinson v Harman (1848) 1 Exch 850; (1848) 154 ER 363 Ruthol Pty Ltd v Tricon (Australia) Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 443; (2006) NSW ConvR 56-145 Ruxley Electronics and Construction Ltd v Forsyth [1994] 1 WLR 650; [1994] 3 All ER 801 South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service v King [2006] NSWCA 2 St George Fertility Centre Pty Ltd v Clark [2011] NSWSC 1276 St George Fertility Centre v Clark (Supreme Court, Macready AsJ, 31 May 2010, unreported) St George Fertility Centre Pty Ltd v Clark (No 2) (Supreme Court, Gzell J, 8 November 2011, unreported) Tabcorp Holdings Ltd v Bowen Investments Pty Ltd [2009] HCA 8; (2008-2009) 236 CLR 272 Tasman Capital Pty Ltd v Sinclair & Anor [2008] NSWCA 248; (2008) 75 NSWLR 1 The Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 54; (1991) 174 CLR 64 Texts Cited: Chitty on Contracts Vol 1, 29th ed (2004) Sweet and Maxwell Andrew Burrows, Remedies for Torts and Breach of Contract, 3rd ed (2004) Oxford University Press Harvey Macgregor, McGregor on Damages, 18th ed (2009) Sweet and Maxwell Edwin Peel, Treitel On The Law of Contract, 13th ed (2011) Sweet and Maxwell Category: Principal judgment Parties: David Charles Ross Macourt (Appellant/Cross Respondent) Anne Clark (Respondent/Cross Appellant) Representation: Counsel: C Harris SC with H Altan (Appellant/Cross Respondent) A Leopold SC with ARR Vincent (Respondent/Cross Appellant) Solicitors: Redmond Hale Simpson Solicitors (Appellant/ Cross Respondent) Norton Rose Australia (Respondent/Cross Appellant) File Number(s): CA9248 of 2012 Decision under appeal Citation: St George Fertility Centre Pty Ltd v Clark [2011] NSWSC 1276 Date of Decision: 2011-10-25 00:00:00 Before: Gzell J File Number(s): SC255614 of 2006