Owners Corporation Strata Plan 69470 v Owners Corporation Strata Plan 69948 (No 2) [2017] NSWDC 262

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Owners Corporation Strata Plan 69470 v Owners Corporation Strata Plan 69948 (No 2) [2017] NSWDC 262 Hearing dates: 4 – 7 July 2016; 26 August 2016; 21 October 2016; 3 November 2016, 17, 24 November 2016 (further written submissions), 7 April 2017(supplementary submissions) and 29 June 2017 (further supplementary submissions) Date of orders: 18 September 2017 Decision date: 18 September 2017 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Hatzistergos DCJ Decision: (1) Verdict for the Defendant; (2) Subject to any application to my Associate to relist the matter for any further or other order as to costs the Plaintiff should pay the Defendants costs; and (3) Exhibits are to be retained for 28 days. Catchwords: CONTRACT – STRATA SCHEMES – strata management statement – construction of clauses within statement – whether failure to pay in accordance with statement gives rise to cause of action – BREACH – whether statement breached by failure to pay in accordance with "payment notice" – whether auditor validly appointed

WORDS AND PHRASES – meaning of "duly audited" – "reasonable details" – purpose of having "duly audited payment notice"

JURISDICTION – whether District Court of NSW has jurisdiction to determine claim for equitable contribution – matter remitted to District Court of NSW by the Supreme Court of NSW Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 90, 100 and 144 District Court Act 1973 (NSW) s 134(1)(h) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 69 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 35(1) Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 (NSW) ss 28S, 28U, 28W and sch 1C Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW) ss 62, 107, 126, 138, 139, 167, 169, 173, 175 and 226; and ch 5 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 36.1 Cases Cited: Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; 98 ER 969 Bonette v Woolworths (1937) 37 SR (NSW) 142, 150 ( Chan & Anor v Cresdon Pty Ltd (1989) 168 CLR 242 Forbes Engineering (Asia) Pte Ltd v Forbes (No 4) [2009] FCA 675 Hunter's Hill Council v Minister for Local Government; Lane Cove Council v Minister for Local Government; Mosman Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government; North Sydney Council v Minister for Local Government; Strathfield Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government [2017] NSWCA 188 Idya Pty Ltd v Anastasiou [2008] NSWCA 102 Mahoney v McManus (1981) 180 CLR 370; [1981] HCA 54 McElwaine v The Owners-Strata Plan No 75975 [2016] NSWSC 1589 Optus v Leighton & Ors [2002] NSWSC 327 Owners Corporation Strata Plan 69470 v Charbel CJ Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 1286 Owners Corporation Strata Plan 69470 v Owners Corporation Strata Plan 69948 (No 1) [2017] NSWDC 181 Owners Strata Plan 50276 v Thoo (2013) 17 BLR 33,789; [2013] NSWCA 270 Poulet Frais Pty Ltd v The Silver Fox Company Pty Ltd [2005] FCAFC 131 Taouk v Assure (NSW) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 227 The Owners Strata Plan 30695 v Stratacorp [2005] NSWSC 405 The Owners-Strata Plan No 21372 v Banovic (No 2) [2017] NSWSC 734 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Owners Corporation Strata Plan 69470 (Plaintiff) Owners Corporation Strata Plan 69948 (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr C Purdy (Plaintiff) Mr J Young (Defendant)