Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd v Hamersley Iron Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 536

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd v Hamersley Iron Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 536 Hearing dates: 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 18 March and 11 April 2013 Decision date: 10 May 2013 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Commercial List Before: Hammerschlag J Decision: Verdict for plaintiff on its claim and verdict for cross-claimant on its cross-claim against second defendant/second cross-defendant. Plaintiff's claim and cross-claimant's cross-claim against first defendant/first cross-defendant dismissed Catchwords: CONTRACT - construction - whether on the proper construction of a written agreement the defendants are (or either of them is) obliged to pay a royalty in respect of iron ore won from a defined area - whether ore is being won from a certain part of the defined area by a person deriving title through or under that of the first defendant or by the first defendant in association with another person Legislation Cited: Mining Act 1904 (WA) Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Arbitration (Foreign Awards and Agreements) Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165 Wilkie v Gordian Runoff Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 522 International Air Transport Association v Ansett Australia Holdings Ltd (2008) 234 CLR 151 Western Export Services Inc v Jireh International Pty Ltd [2011] HCA 45; (2011) 86 ALJR 1 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337 Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd v Coopers Brewery Ltd (2006) 156 FCR 1 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd (2009) 76 NSWLR 603 Phoenix Commercial Enterprises Pty Ltd v City of Canada Bay Council [2010] NSWCA 64 Pacific Carriers v BNP Paribas (2004) 218 CLR 451 Roussel-Uclaf v Searle [1978] 1 Lloyd's Rep 225 Sahab Holdings Pty Ltd v Registrar-General (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 42 Castle Constructions Pty Ltd v Sahab Holdings Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 11 Tanning Research Laboratories v O'Brien (1990) 169 CLR 332 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd - Plaintiff Hamersley Iron Pty Limited - First Defendant/First Cross-Defendant Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited - Second Defendant/Second Cross-Defendant Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd - Third Defendant/Cross-Claimant Channar Mining Pty Ltd - Third Cross-Defendant Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd - Fourth Cross-Defendant Hamersley Exploration Pty Ltd - Fifth Cross-Defendant Representation: Counsel: A.J. Myers QC with K.A. Stern SC, K.H. Barrett and R. Hardcastle- Plaintiff N.J. Young QC with M.J. Darke and J. Garas - First and Second Defendants, and all Cross-Defendants J.C. Giles - Third Defendant/Cross-Claimant Solicitors: Clayton Utz - Plaintiff Allens Linklaters - First and Second Defendants, and all Cross-Defendants Horton Rhodes Lawyers - Third Defendant/Cross-Claimant File Number(s): 2009/323345