Curnow Consulting Pty Limited v JPD Media and Design Pty Ltd t/a Durie Design [2017] NSWSC 1171

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Curnow Consulting Pty Limited v JPD Media and Design Pty Ltd t/a Durie Design [2017] NSWSC 1171 Hearing dates: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 14 & 15 December 2015; 13 September 2016 & 4 November 2016 Date of orders: 01 September 2017 Decision date: 01 September 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Slattery J Decision: See paragraph [438] – [444]. Catchwords: CONTRACT – Construction of written agreement – dispute concerning the terms of an oral agreement – plaintiff company supplies consulting services to the first defendant company for consideration payable by the first defendant to the plaintiff – first defendant carries on business associated with the public profile of an Australian media celebrity – parties' contractual arrangements reflected in two agreements – a written services agreement commences on 1 July 2008 for five years until 30 June 2013 – whether the services agreement was terminated on 28 March 2013 – parties also dispute the terms of an oral Management Agreement, including whether and when the payment of management fees under it terminated, the term of the Management Agreement and whether or not the Management Agreement was validly terminated at or about the same time as the services agreement – issues of quantum reserved by agreement for further consideration Cases Cited: Almond Investors Limited v Kualitree Nursery Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 198 Associated Newspapers Limited v Bancks (I951) 83 CLR 322 Australian Blue Metal Ltd v Hughes [1963] AC 74 Automatic Fire Sprinklers Pty Ltd v Watson (1946) 72 CLR 435 Bolwell Fibreglass Pty Ltd v Foley [1984] VR 97 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153; [2001] NSWCA 61 Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 County Securities Pty Limited v Challenger Group Holdings Pty Limited & Anor [2008] NSWCA 193 CSR Ltd v Della Maddalena [2006] HCA 1; 80 ALJR 458 Elder's Trustee & Executor Co Ltd v Commonwealth Homes & Investment Co Ltd (1941) 65 CLR 603 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Integrated Computer Services Pty Ltd v Digital Equipment Corp (Aust) Pty Ltd (1988) 5 BPR 97,326 Interstar Wholesale Finance Pty Ltd v Integral Home Loans Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 310 Lantry v Tomule Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 81 McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Ltd (1933) 48 CLR 457 Myers v Ross (1935) 10 F Supp. 409 Ogle v Comboyuro Investments Pty Ltd (1976) 136 CLR 444 Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd (1974) 131 CLR 634 Sharjade Pty Ltd v Commonwealth [2009] NSWCA 373 Shepherd v Felt & Textiles of Australia Ltd (1931) 45 CLR 359; [1931] HCA 21 Showcase Video Pty Ltd v Tambali (Court of Appeal - New South Wales, 28 April 1987 unreported) Smith v Butler (1901) QB 694 Southern Han Breakfast Point Pty Ltd (in liq) v Lewence Construction Pty Ltd [2016] HCA 52 State Trading Corporation of India Ltd v M Golodetz Ltd [1989] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 277 Summers v The Commonwealth (1918) 25 CLR 144 Wendt v Bruce (1931) 45 CLR 245 White and Carter (Councils) Limited v McGregor [1962] AC 413 White Trucks Pty Ltd v Riley (1948) 66 WN NSW 103 Willmott Growers Group Inc v Willmott Forests Ltd (Receivers and Managers appointed) (in liq) (2013) 251 CLR 592 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Curnow Consulting Pty Limited ABN 76086618779 First Defendant: JPD Media & Design Pty Limited trading as Durie Design Second Defendant: Jamie Paul Durie Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: L.S. Einstein, Mr L. Gor First and Second Defendants: B. McClintock SC, D. Neggo