Beverley Yule v Darcy Smith [2013] NSWSC 209

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Beverley Yule v Darcy Smith [2013] NSWSC 209 Hearing dates: 28 February 2013, further written submissions on 7, 14 and 15 March 2013 Decision date: 20 March 2013 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Sackar J Decision: Grant the relief sought in the motion. Catchwords: CONTRACTS - whether a contractual clause is a condition precedent to performance - whether a time stipulation in a condition precedent is of the essence - whether an election to terminate the contract has been made - whether a party is entitled to assert termination for the first time as defence in proceedings - whether it is too late to terminate where the breach of a condition precedent giving rise to a right to terminate has been remedied before termination is asserted - whether to exercise discretion to give effect to settlement agreement. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Local Government Act 1993 Property (Relationships) Act 1984 Cases Cited: African Minerals Ltd v Pan Palladium Ltd [2003] NSWSC 268 Chapman v Greater Midwest Insurance Pty Ltd [1981] 1 NSWLR 479 Fitzgerald v Masters (1956) 95 CLR 420 Immer (No 145) Pty Ltd v Uniting Church In Australia Property Trust (NSW) (1993) 182 CLR 26 Meares Nominees Pty Ltd v Permanent Custodians Ltd [2009] NSWCA 235 Ogle v Comboyuro Investments Pty Ltd (1976) 136 CLR 444 Perri v Coolangatta Investments Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 537 Rudi's Enterprises Pty Ltd v Jay (1987) 10 NSWLR 568 Ruthol Pty Ltd v Tricon (Australia) Pty Ltd (2005) 12 BPR 23,923 Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd (1974) 131 CLR 634 Savage v Lunn (CA(NSW), Handley, Sheller JJA and Sheppard AJA, 9 March 1998, unreported) Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418 Tropical Traders Ltd v Goonan (1964) 111 CLR 41 Yule v Smith [2011] NSWSC 598 Yule v Smith [2012] NSWCA 191 Texts Cited: A K Turner, Spencer Bower and Turner, The Law Relating to Estoppel by Representation, 3rd ed (1977) Butterworths Dominic O'Sullivan, Steven Elliot and Rafal Zakrzewski, The Law of Rescission (2008) Oxford University Press K Lewison and D Hughes, The Interpretation of Contracts in Australia (2012) Lawbook Co Category: Principal judgment Parties: Beverley Anne Yule (Plaintiff / Respondent) Darcy Peter Smith (Defendant / Applicant) Representation: Counsel: L M Byrne (Plaintiff / Respondent) E Muston (Defendant / Applicant) Solicitors: Malouf Solicitors (Plaintiff / Respondent) Brown Abrahams Burreket (Defendant / Applicant) File Number(s): 2008/278833