Tzaneros Investments Pty Limited v Walker Group Constructions Pty Limited [2016] NSWSC 50

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Tzaneros Investments Pty Limited v Walker Group Constructions Pty Limited [2016] NSWSC 50 Hearing dates: 9 to 12, 16 to 19, 23 to 27 November and 2 to 4 December 2015 Decision date: 12 February 2016 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Ball J Decision: See paragraphs 216 to 218 of this judgment Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS – warranties – assignment of warranties – effect of subsequent assignment of the subject-matter of the contract TORTS – negligence – existence of a duty of care – breach – whether claim apportionable under the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) CONTRACT – ascertaining the parties to the contract EQUITY – estoppel – estoppel by convention DAMAGES – calculating loss – whether to discount award for betterment Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Waterbrook at Yowie Bay Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 224 Australian Broadcasting Corp v XIVth Commonwealth Games (1998) 18 NSWLR 540 Bannister & Hunter v Transition Resort Holdings (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 1943 Bellgrove v Eldridge (1954) 90 CLR 613 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council [2001] NSWCA 61; (2001) 53 NSWLR 15 Brickhill v Cooke [1984] 3 NSWLR 396 British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co Ltd v Underground Electric Railways Co of London Ltd [1912] AC 673 Brookfield Multiplex Ltd v Owners – Strata Plan No 61288 [2014] HCA 36; (2014) 254 CLR 185 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1982) 149 CLR 337 Cordon Investments Pty Ltd v Lesdor Properties Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 184 Con-Stan Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v Norwich Winterthur Insurance (Australia) Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 226 Filadelfia Projects Pty Ltd v Entirity Business Services Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 116 Geebung Investments Pty Ltd v Varga Group Investments (No 8) Pty Ltd (1995) 7 BPR 14,551 Harbutt's 'Plasticine' Limited v Wayne Tank and Pump Co Limited [1970] 1 QB 447 Hoad v Scone Motors Pty Ltd [1977] 1 NSWLR 88 Hyder Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd v Wilh Wilhelmsen Agency [2001] NSWCA 313 J & B Caldwell Ltd v Logan House Retirement Home Ltd [1999] 2 NZLR 99 Paper Australia v Ansell [2007] VSC 484 Scott Carver Pty Ltd v SAS Trustee Corporation [2005] NSWCA 462 Tabcorp Holdings Ltd v Bowen Investments Pty Ltd [2009] HCA 8; (2009) 236 CLR 272 Tyco Australia Pty Ltd v Optus Networks Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 333 Westpoint Management Ltd v Chocolate Factory Apartments Ltd [2007] NSWCA 253 Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 16; (2004) 216 CLR 515 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Tzaneros Investments Pty Ltd (ACN 114 879 524) (Plaintiff) Walker Group Constructions Pty Ltd (ACN 097 303 716) (First Defendant|Cross Claimant) AMT Engineers Pty Limited formerly Alan L Wright & Associates Pty Limited (ACN 001 582 029) (Second Defendant|Cross Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Dempsey SC with JA Hogan-Doran (Plaintiff) MG Rudge SC with FP Hicks and Ms EE Whitby (First Defendant|Cross Claimant) MS White SC with Ms N Shaw (Second Defendant| Cross Defendant)