Zhu v Snell [2014] NSWSC 468

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Zhu v Snell [2014] NSWSC 468 Hearing dates: 8, 9 & 11 April 2014; written submissions 15 April 2014 Decision date: 24 April 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Expedition List Before: Stevenson J Decision: Plaintiff entitled to specific performance Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY - contract for sale of land - whether contract validly terminated - whether subsequent conduct amounted to revival of contract - whether notice to complete valid; EQUITY - equitable interests - whether second defendant had an equitable interest in property prior to exchange of contracts - whether plaintiff on notice as to any such interest - whether any equitable interest of the second defendant postponed to that of the plaintiff; REMEDIES - specific performance - whether plaintiff entitled to specific performance - whether plaintiff ready willing and able to complete - whether specific performance should be denied on basis of impossibility or hardship - whether damages are an adequate remedy Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 Real Property Act 1900 Cases Cited: Abigail v Lapin [1934] AC 491; 51 CLR 58 Bibby Financial Services Australia Pty Limited v Sharma [2014] NSWCA 37 Camden v McKenzie [2007] QCA 136; [2008] 1 Qd R 39 Con-Stan Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v Norwich Winterthur Insurance (Australia) Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 226 David Jones Ltd v Perpetual Ltd [2006] QSC 337 Heid v Reliance Finance Corporation Pty Ltd (1983) 154 CLR 326 IGA Distribution Pty Ltd v King and Taylor Pty Ltd [2002] VSC 440 Ogle v Comboyuro Investments Pty Limited [1976] HCA 21; 136 CLR 444 Patel v Ali [1984] 1 Ch 283 Perri v Coolangatta Investments Pty Limited (1982) 149 CLR 537 Pianta v National Finance & Trustee Ltd (1964) 180 CLR 146 Texts Cited: Butt, Land Law, (6th ed, 2010) Lewison & Hughes, The Interpretation of Contracts in Australia, (2012) Young, Croft and Smith, On Equity, (2009) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hong Zhu (Plaintiff) Paul Snell (First Defendant) (Self Represented) Wenhui Jiang (Second Defendant) (Self Represented) Representation: Counsel: L T Fermanis with M J Gibson (Plaintiff) Solicitors: Benchmark Conveyancing Lawyers (Plaintiff) File Number(s): SC 2013/365455 Publication restriction: Nil