Champion Homes Sales Pty Limited v DCT Projects Pty Limited [2015] NSWSC 616

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Champion Homes Sales Pty Limited v DCT Projects Pty Limited [2015] NSWSC 616 Hearing dates: 13 to 17, 20 and 23 April 2015 Decision date: 26 May 2015 Before: Ball J Decision: 1.Judgment for the plaintiff against the first defendant in the sum of $119,117.95. 2.Judgment for the plaintiff against each of the second to ninth defendants in the sum of $13,235.33. 3.Cross-claims dismissed. Catchwords: CONTRACT – whether owner entitled to terminate contract – liquidated damages for delay – turns on own facts. TRADE AND COMMERCE – misleading or deceptive conduct – whether builder engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct by failing to disclose need for construction of large retaining walls – turns on own facts. BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – whether owner entitled to recover sums paid for variations under building contract – whether prevention principle applies to prevent owner from claiming liquidated damages for delay. Legislation Cited: Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Practice Note SC Gen 16 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) (now the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) Cases Cited: Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd [2009] HCA 25; (2009) 238 CLR 304 Commonwealth of Australia v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64 Fabcot Pty Ltd v Port Macquarie-Hastings Council [2011] NSWCA 167 Foley v Classique Coaches Ltd [1934] 2 KB 1 Foran v Wight [1989] HCA 51; (1989) 168 CLR 385 Galafassi v Kelly [2014] NSWCA 190; (2014) 87 NSWLR 119 Gaymark Investments Pty Ltd v Walter Construction Group Ltd [2000] 16 BCL 449 Gold City Developments Pty Ltd v Portpride Pty Ltd [2010] WASC 148 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 61; (2007) 233 CLR 115 Laurinda Pty Ltd v Capalaba Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd [1989] HCA 23; (1989) 166 CLR 623 Ogle v Comboyuro Investments Pty Ltd (1976) 136 CLR 444 Re Concrete Constructions Group Pty Ltd [1997] 1 Qd R 6 Robinson v Harman (1848) 1 Ex 850 at 855 Shevill v Builders Licensing Board [1982] HCA 47; (1982) 149 CLR 620 Traderight (NSW) Pty Ltd v Bank of Queensland Ltd [2015] NSWCA 94 Trollope & Colls v North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board [1973] 1 WLR 601 Turner Corporation Ltd (rec and mgr apptd) v Austotel Pty Ltd (1994) 13 BCL 378 Texts Cited: Hudson's Building and Engineering Contracts, Sweet & Maxwell, (12th ed, 2010) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Champion Homes Sales Pty Limited ACN 082 497 247 (Plaintiff/First Cross Defendant to First Cross Claim) DCT Projects Pty Limited ACN 116 379 616 (First Defendant/First Cross Claimant on First Cross Claim) Timothy Ainsworth (Second Defendant) Patricia Avila (Third Defendant) David Barbic (Fourth Defendant) David Brack (Fifth Defendant) Robert Marshall Brown (Sixth Defendant) Chang Seing Ching (Seventh Defendant) Anne Hsu (Eighth Defendant) Peter Mason (Ninth Defendant) Mark Nixon (Tenth Defendant) Sredoje Malesev (Second Cross Defendant on First Cross Claim) Representation: Counsel: C Stomo (Plaintiff) M R Gracie with B Douglas-Baker (Second to Fifth and Ninth Defendants) In Person (Sixth Defendant)