Mainteck Services Pty Ltd v Stein Heurtey SA [2014] NSWCA 184

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Mainteck Services Pty Ltd v Stein Heurtey SA [2014] NSWCA 184 Hearing dates: 8, 9, 10, 11 April 2014 Decision date: 06 June 2014 Before: Ward JA at [1]; Emmett JA at [2]; Leeming JA at [14] Decision: 1. Notice of motion filed 8 October 2013 dismissed.

2. Application for leave to amend notice of appeal to challenge variation directions 7 and 8 dismissed.

3. Appeal dismissed.

4. Direct the parties, within 14 days of today, to file a note of any orders which may be made by consent as to costs, failing which they are to file and serve short submissions not exceeding 5 pages as to the orders as to costs they propose and the reasons they should be made. Catchwords: APPEAL - application to amend notice of appeal - extension of time - significance of unexplained delay

BUILDING AND ENGINEERING CONTRACTS - "turnkey" contract - descriptive label unhelpful in determining questions of construction - "global claim" for delay and disruption - applicable principles

CONTRACTS - construction and interpretation - commercial contract - role of context and surrounding circumstances and purpose - role of "ambiguity" and "plain meaning" - significance of Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; 88 ALJR 447 at [35] - relevance of grammatical errors - relevance of punctuation - incorporation by reference - contractual rectification

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - reference - adoption of referees' report - discretionary decision of primary judge to adopt or reject report - applicable principles on appeal from - extent of obligation to give reasons Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), Part 1A Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 57, 58 Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 87 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 20.24 Wild Dog Destruction Regulation 1999, cl 7 Cases Cited: Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd v Sydney Catchment Authority [2004] NSWCA 270 Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170 AG Cullen Construction Inc v State System of Higher Education 898 A 2d 1145 (2006) Alexander v Cambridge Credit Corporation Ltd (1987) 9 NSWLR 310 Alstom Ltd v Yokogawa Australia Pty Ltd (No 7) [2012] SASC 49 AMCI Investments Pty Ltd v Rio Doce Australia Pty Ltd [2008] QCA 387 Antaios Compania Naviera SA v Salen Rederierna AB [1985] AC 191 Associated Japanese Bank (International) Ltd v Crédit du Nord SA [1989] 1 WLR 255 B & B Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Brian A Cheeseman & Associates Pty Ltd (1994) 35 NSWLR 227 Astley v Austrust Ltd [1999] HCA 6; 197 CLR 1 Bank of Queensland Ltd v Chartis Australia Insurance Ltd [2013] QCA 183 Bellevarde Constructions Pty Ltd v CPC Energy Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 228 Byrnes v Kendle [2011] HCA 26; 243 CLR 253 Cable Ltd v Hutcherson Bros Pty Ltd (1969) 123 CLR 143 Campbell v R [2008] NSWCCA 214; 73 NSWLR 272 Cape Lambert Resources Ltd v MCC Australia Sanjin Mining Pty Ltd [2013] WASCA 66; 298 ALR 666 Chalmers Leask Underwriting Agencies v Mayne Nickless Ltd (1983) 155 CLR 279 Chartbrook Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd [2009] UKHL 38; [2009] 1 AC 1101 Charter Reinsurance Co Ltd v Fagan [1997] AC 313 Chief Commissioner of Stamp Duties (NSW) v Buckle [1998] HCA 4; 192 CLR 226 Chocolate Factory Apartments Limited v Westpoint Finance Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 784 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64 Cornelius v Global Medical Solutions Australia Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 65 Dale v The Queen [2012] VSCA 324 East v Pantiles (Plant Hire) Ltd [1982] 2 EGLR 111 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; 88 ALJR 447 El-Mir v Risk [2005] NSWCA 215 Energy Brix Australia Corporation Pty Ltd v National Logistics Coordinators (Morwell) Pty Ltd [2002] VSCA 113; 5 VR 353 Fejo v Northern Territory [1998] HCA 58; 195 CLR 96 Fink v Fink (1946) 74 CLR 127 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd [2009] NSWCA 407; 76 NSWLR 603 Fully Profit (Asia) Ltd v Secretary for Justice [2013] HKCFA 40; 6 HKC 374 Gordon v Truong [2014] NSWCA 97 Helmos Enterprises Pty Ltd v Jaylor Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 235; 12 BPR 23,021 Houston v Burns [1918] AC 337 HSH Hotels (Australia) Ltd v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 302 Illawarra Hotel Company Pty Ltd v Walton Construction Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 6 In re Fish; Ingham v Rayner [1894] 2 Ch 83 In re the Will of FB Gilbert (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318 Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society [1998] 1 All ER 98 Irene Henderson Ltd v Eddie Mair Ltd [2012] CSOH 66 John Holland Construction & Engineering Pty Ltd v Kvaerner RJ Brown Pty Ltd (1996) 8 VR 681 Kirin-Amgen Inc v Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd [2005] 1 All ER 667 Laing Management (Scotland) Ltd v John Doyle Construction Ltd [2004] BLR 295; 2004 SC 713 Le Meilleur Pty Ltd v Jin Heung Mutual Savings Bank Co Ltd [2011] NSWSC 1115 Lichter v Mellon-Stuart Company 305 F 2d 216 (1962) McCowan v Baine [1891] AC 401 Mamidoil-Jetoil Greek Petroleum Co SA v Okta Crude Oil Refinery AD [2001] 2 Lloyd's Rep 76 Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Ltd v Withers (1988) 5 ANZ Ins Cas 60-853 Marley v Rawlings [2014] UKSC 2; [2014] 2 WLR 213 Meehan v Jones (1982) 149 CLR 571 Merryweather v Nixan (1799) 101 ER 1337 Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantan Properties Pte Ltd [2011] NSWCA 297; 15 BPR 29,545 Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantan Properties (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 344 Multi-Link Leisure Developments Ltd v North Lanarkshire Council [2010] UKSC 47 Musselburgh And Fisherrow Co-Operative Society Ltd v Mowlem Scotland Ltd (No 2) [2006] CSOH 39 National Australia Bank Ltd v Clowes [2013] NSWCA 179 Nine Network Pty Ltd v Kennedy Miller Television Pty Ltd [1994] NSWCA 235 Origin Energy LPG Ltd (formerly Boral Gas (NSW) Pty Ltd) v BestCare Foods Ltd [2013] NSWCA 90 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas [2004] HCA 35; 218 CLR 451 Pilmer v Duke Group Ltd (in liq) [2001] HCA 31; 207 CLR 165 Prenn v Simmonds [1971] 1 WLR 1381 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; 194 CLR 355 Reardon Smith Line Ltd v Yngvar Hansen-Tangen [1976] 1 WLR 989 Rich v Westpac Banking Corporation [2014] NSWCA 136 Sammut v Manzi [2008] UKPC 58; [2009] All ER 234 Southland Frozen Meat and Produce Export Company Ltd v Nelson Brothers Ltd [1898] AC 442 Steel Company of Canada Ltd v Willand Management Ltd (1966) 58 DLR (2d) 595 Super Pty Ltd v SJP Formwork (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 29 NSWLR 549 Taylor v Owners - Strata Plan No 11564 [2014] HCA 9 The Great Peace [2002] EWCA Civ 1407; [2003] QB 679 Thorn v Mayor and Commonalty of London (1876) 1 App Cas 120 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; 219 CLR 165 United Dominions Corporation Ltd v Brian Pty Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 1 Upper Hunter County District Council v Australian Chilling & Freezing Co Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 429 Vector Gas Ltd v Bay of Plenty Energy Ltd [2010] NZSC 5; [2010] 2 NZLR 444 Vroon BV v Foster's Brewing Group Ltd [1994] 2 VR 32 Wayne Knorr Inc v Department of Transportation 973 A 2d 1061 (2009) Wenco Industrial Pty Ltd v WW Industries Pty Ltd [2009] VSCA 191; 25 VR 119 Western Export Services Inc v Jireh International Pty Ltd [2011] HCA 45; 86 ALJR 1 Westpac Banking Corporation v Tanzone Pty Ltd [2000] NSWCA 25; 9 BPR 17,521 Whishaw v Stephens [1970] AC 508 Wilkie v Gordian Runoff Ltd [2005] HCA 17; 221 CLR 522 Wilson v Wilson (1854) 5 HL Cas 40; 10 ER 811 Zurich Insurance (Singapore) Pte Ltd v B-Gold Interior Design & Construction Pte Ltd [2008] SGCA 27; 3 SLR(R) 1029 Texts Cited: Sir Richard Buxton, "'Construction' and Rectification after Chartbrook" [2010] CLJ 253 The Honourable Justice Byrne, "Total Costs and Global Claims" (1995) 11 BCL 397 J Carter, The Construction of Commercial Contracts (Hart Publishing, 2013) Digest of Justinian, 17.2 and 17.2.31 A Haidar, Global Claims in Construction (Springer 2011) Hudson's Building and Engineering Contracts, Sweet & Maxwell (12th ed, 2010) M Leeming, Resolving Conflicts of Laws (Federation Press 2011) K Lindgren, "The ambiguity of 'ambiguity' in the construction of contracts" (2014) 38 Aust Bar Rev 153 J Steyn, "The Intractable Problem of The Interpretation of Legal Texts" (2003) 25 Syd L Rev 5 L Truss, Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation (Fourth Estate 2009) M Walton, "Where now ambiguity?" (2011) 35 Aust Bar Rev 176 JH Wigmore, A Treatise on the Anglo-American System of Evidence in Trials at Common Law (3rd ed 1940, Little Brown & Co, Boston), Vol 9 p 180 D Wong and B Michael, "Western Export Services v Jireh International: Ambiguity as the gateway to surrounding circumstances?" (2012) 86 ALJ 57 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mainteck Services Pty Ltd (Appellant) Stein Heurtey SA (First Respondent) Stein Heurtey Australia Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: F Corsaro SC / F Kalyk (Appellant) P Taylor SC / JTG Gibson (First and Second Respondents)