Stephen Wayne Velik v Noreen Steingold [2013] NSWCA 303

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Stephen Wayne Velik v Noreen Steingold [2013] NSWCA 303 Hearing dates: 29 July 2013 Decision date: 13 September 2013 Before: McColl JA [1]; Gleeson JA [2]; Sackville AJA [3]. Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the orders made by the primary Judge on 4 September 2012 and 29 October 2012. 3. Direct the appellants (the Purchasers) to file within seven days short minutes of order consistent with these reasons for judgment. 4. Direct the appellants, if the short minutes of order are not agreed, to file within the time specified in Order 3, brief written submissions in support. 5. Direct the respondent (the Vendor), if she disputes the appellants' short minutes of order, to file within a further seven days her proposed short minutes of order, together with brief written submissions in support. [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: CONTRACT - contract for the sale of land - validity of notice to complete - whether contract required fourteen clear days notice - whether any shorter period permissible

CONTRACT - whether purchasers repudiated the contract by failing to complete on an agreed date (where a valid notice to complete had not been served) - purchasers insisting on an erroneous interpretation of the contract as the basis of their refusal to complete on the agreed date - purchasers acting in good faith - failure of vendor to point out the precise error in the purchasers' interpretation Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 s 55(2A) Cases Cited: Ajit v Sammy [1967] 1 AC 255 Associated Beauty Aids Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1965] HCA 20; 113 CLR 662 Carr v Keys-Arenas (1982) 2 BPR 9498 Doyle v Howey (1990) 6 BPR 13,401 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd [1978] HCA 12; 138 CLR 423 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Limited [1972] HCA 61; 127 CLR 421 Killarney Investments Pty Ltd v Macedonian Community of Western Australia Inc [2007] WASCA 180 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 61; 233 CLR 115 Laurinda Pty Ltd v Capalaba Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd [1989] HCA 23; 166 CLR 623 M & L Hazelton Pty Ltd v Woodfield (1982) 2 BPR 97,144 Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd v Meriton Property Management Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 75; 15 BPR 28,323 R & A Cab Co Pty Ltd v Kotzman [2008] VSCA 68 Ross T Smyth & Co Ltd v TD Bailey, Son & Co [1940] 3 All ER 60 Satellite Estate Pty Ltd v Jaquet (1968) 71 SR (NSW) 126 Shaddick v Dunsford Investment Pty Ltd (1990) 5 BPR 11,322 Shevill v The Builders Licensing Board [1982] HCA 47; 149 CLR 620 Sindel v Georgiou [1984] HCA 58; 154 CLR 661 Stickney v Keeble [1915] AC 386; [1914] All ER Rep 73 Terry v Merriview Pty Ltd [1983] 2 VR 548 Trawl Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v Effem Foods Pty Ltd (1992) 27 NSWLR 326 Zaccardi v Caunt [2008] NSWCA 202; 15 BPR 28,403 Texts Cited: P Butt, The Standard Contract for Sale of Land in New South Wales (2nd ed, 1998) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Stephen Wayne Velik (First Appellant) Laura Allison Velik (Second Appellant) Noreen Steingold (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: S Balafoutis with DA Stretton (First and Second Appellants) M Einfeld QC with DD Knoll (Respondent) Solicitors: SV Law (First and Second Appellants) Slater & Gordon (Respondent) File Number(s): 2012/305131 Decision under appeal Citation: Stephen Wayne Velik v Noreen Steingold [2012] NSWSC 860 Date of Decision: 2012-07-31 00:00:00 Before: Slattery J File Number(s): 2010/96975