Lachlan v HP Mercantile Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 130

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Lachlan v HP Mercantile Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 130 Hearing dates: 28 April 2015 Decision date: 15 May 2015 Before: Bathurst CJ; Beazley P; McColl JA Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: CONTRACT – settlement – whether clause in deed a penalty or present debt – no express acknowledgment of present debt in deed – express acknowledgement not necessary – recitals may be used as an aid to construction – clause is not a penalty

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – judgments and orders – consent orders – extension of time – UCPR, r 1.12 – whether Paino v Hofbauer (1988) 13 NSWLR 193 correctly decided Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Acron Pacific Ltd v Offshore Oil NL [1985] HCA 63; 157 CLR 514 Arthur Andersen Corporate Finance Pty Ltd v Buzzle Operations Pty Ltd (in liq) [2009] NSWCA 104 Australian Management Consultants Pty Ltd v Direct Mortgage Funding Pty Ltd [2003] VSC 202Attwells v Marsden [2011] NSWSC 38 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor [1996] HCA 25; 186 CLR 541 Calcorp (Australia) Pty Ltd v 271 Collins Pty Ltd [2010] VSCA 259 Cameron v UBS AG [2000] VSCA 222 CDJ v VAJ [1998] HCA 67; 197 CLR 172 Coulton v Holcombe [1986] HCA 33; 162 CLR 1 FAI General Insurance Company Ltd v Southern Cross Exploration NL [1988] HCA 13; 165 CLR 268 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd [2009] NSWCA 407; 76 NSWLR 603. House v The King [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 In the matter of Prismex Technologies Pty Limited; Colin Lindsay Taggert v John Matyear [2013] NSWSC 292 Klein v Domus Pty Ltd [1963] HCA 54; 109 CLR 467 O'Dea v Allstates leasing Systems (WA) Pty Ltd [1983] HCA 3; 152 CLR 359 Paino v Hofbauer (1988) 13 NSWLR 193 Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd v Apsley Specialist Centre Pty Ltd [2010] QSC 232 Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd v Mitchell [2010] NSWSC Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd [1950] HCA 35; 81 CLR 418 Zenith Engineering Pty Ltd v Queensland Cane and Machinery Pty Ltd [2000] QCA 221 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Graham Lachlan (Appellant) HP Mercantile Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Coleman SC; D Sulan (Appellant) P Knowles (Respondent)