Mehmet v Carter [2017] NSWSC 1067

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mehmet v Carter [2017] NSWSC 1067 Hearing dates: 26-27 June 2017 Date of orders: 16 August 2017 Decision date: 16 August 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Darke J Decision: Separate questions answered favourably to vendor defendants. Catchwords: LAND LAW – contract for sale – obligations of vendor – defect in title – where purchaser claimed that Aboriginal objects owned by the Crown constituted a defect in title – whether Aboriginal objects formed part of subject matter of sale – whether Aboriginal objects would give Crown an interest in the subject matter of sale – no defect in title

LAND LAW – contract for sale – completion of contract for sale – vendor's entitlement to interest – where vendor served notice to complete and settlement figures which included interest for delay in completion – whether completion date had been set – whether vendor repudiated contract for sale by continuing to demand interest – no repudiation established

CONTRACTS – construction and interpretation – principles of construction – whether Aboriginal objects included in subject matter of contract for sale of land – relevance of legislative background to construction of contract – construction of contract to avoid commercially unexpected and inconvenient results – Aboriginal objects not part of subject matter of contract Legislation Cited: National Parks and Wildlife Act 1967 (NSW), Part IVA ss 33A-33L National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW), Part 6 Div 1 ss 83-89A National Parks and Wildlife (Amendment) Act 1969 (NSW) Cases Cited: Abraham v Mallon (1975) 1 BPR 97,012 Borda v Burgess (2003) 11 BPR 21,203; [2003] NSWSC 1171 Carapetta v Rado (2012) 16 BPR 30,997; [2012] NSWCA 202 Country Energy v Williams (2005) 63 NSWLR 699; [2005] NSWCA 318 DCT Projects Pty Ltd v Champion Homes Sales Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 117 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd (2017) 343 ALR 58; [2017] HCA 12 Eighth SRJ Pty Ltd v Merity (1997) 7 BPR 97,635 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Elwes v Briggs Gas Company (1886) 33 Ch D 562 Fletcher v Manton (1940) 64 CLR 37 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd (2007) 233 CLR 115; [2007] HCA 61 Stockland Constructors (Pty Ltd) v Carriage (2003) 56 NSWLR 636; [2002] NSWSC 1179 The North Shore Gas Company Ltd v The Commissioner of Stamp Duties (NSW) (1940) 63 CLR 52 Travinto Nominees Pty Ltd v Vlattas (1973) 129 CLR 1 Westfield Management Ltd v AMP Capital Property Nominees Ltd (2012) 247 CLR 129; [2012] HCA 54 Zaps Transport (Aust) Pty Ltd v PJG Warehousing and Distribution Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 97 Texts Cited: J W Carter, Contract Law in Australia (LexisNexis Butterworths, Sixth Edition, 2013) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ian Mehmet as trustee for the Ian G Mehmet Testamentary Trust (First Plaintiff/First Cross-Defendant) Cameron Mehmet as trustee for the Cameron Mehmet Testamentary Trust (Second Plaintiff/Second Cross-Defendant) Errol Mehmet as trustee for the Errol J Mehmet Testamentary Trust (Third Plaintiff/Third Cross-Defendant) Cheers Aviation Pty Ltd as trustee for the KMGC Investment Trust (Fourth Plaintiff/Fourth Cross-Defendant) Matthew Cheers (Fifth Cross-Defendant) Murray John Carter (First Defendant/First Cross-Claimant) The Wheel Resort Pty Ltd (Second Defendant/Second Cross-Claimant) Cathscompany Pty Ltd (Third Defendant/Third Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: Mr D A Smallbone and Mr J M Wheeldon (Plaintiffs/Cross-Defendants) Mr F G Lever SC and Mr M Southwick (Defendants/Cross-Claimants)