Johnston v Brightstars Holding Company Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 150

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Johnston v Brightstars Holding Company Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 150 Hearing dates: 17 October 2013 Decision date: 14 May 2014 Before: Beazley P at [1]; Basten JA at [99]; Gleeson JA at [132] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. [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: CONTRACTS - General contractual principles - Variation of contracts - Proof of terms of variation - Pre-contractual conduct

CONTRACTS - General contractual principles - Variation of contracts - Proof of terms of variation - Post-contractual conduct - Whether admissible as admissions

EVIDENCE - Admissions - Whether admissible on questions of mixed fact and law

EVIDENCE - Witnesses - Cross-examination - Rule in Browne v Dunn - Where witness gives no evidence of alleged event

ESTOPPEL - Equitable estoppel - Reliance Legislation Cited: Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Administration of Papua and New Guinea v Daera Guba (1973) 130 CLR 353 Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Limited v Gardiner [2008] HCA 57; 238 CLR 570 Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [1983] 1 NSWLR 1 Attorney General of Belize v Belize Telecom Ltd [2009] 1 WLR 1988 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council [2001] NSWCA 61; 53 NSWLR 153 Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R 67 (HL) Bulstrode v Trimble [1970] VR 840 at 849 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of NSW [1982] HCA 24; 149 CLR 337 County Securities Pty Ltd v Challenger Group Holdings Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 193 Dovuro Pty Ltd v Wilkins [2003] HCA 51; 215 CLR 317 Eastern Express Pty Ltd v General Newspapers Pty Ltd (1992) 35 FCR 43 Electricity Generation Corporation (trading as Verve Energy) v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7 Eslea Holdings Ltd v Butts (1986) 6 NSWLR 175 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Grey v Australian Motorists & General Insurance Co Pty Ltd [1976] 1 NSWLR 669 Hopcroft v Edmunds (2013) 116 SASR 191 James Miller & Partners Ltd v Whitworth Street Estates (Manchester) Ltd [1970] AC 583 Jones v Sutherland Shire Council [1979] 2 NSWLR 206 Lym International Pty Ltd v Marcolongo [2011] NSWCA 303 Mannai Investment Co v Eagle Star Life Assurance Co Ltd [1997] AC 749 Masterton Homes Pty Ltd v Palm Assets Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 234; 261 ALR 382 Pitcher v Langford (1991) 23 NSWLR 142 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; 219 CLR 165 Walton Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher [1988] HCA 7; 164 CLR 387 Wardle v Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 107 Wilson v Anderson [2002] HCA 29; 213 CLR 401 Texts Cited: Lewison and Hughes, The Interpretation of Contracts in Australia (Law Book Co, 2012) at [2.04]-[2.05] J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence (9th ed, 2013, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Paul Arthur Johnston (First Appellant) Blair Massey Warren (Second Appellant) Brightstars Holding Company Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Peter Wilson (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: G Reynolds SC; C Botsman (Appellants) C Harris SC (Respondents) Solicitors: Kemp Strang Lawyers (Appellants) Willis & Bowring (Respondents) File Number(s): CA 2012/350075; 2012/348802 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9111 Citation: Brightstars Holding Co Pty Ltd v Johnston [2012] NSWSC 929; Brightstars Holding Co Pty Ltd v Johnston; In the matter of Brightstars Freehold Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 1228 Before: Stevenson J File Number(s): 2011/324919