Dougall v Melville [2017] NSWCA 309

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Dougall v Melville [2017] NSWCA 309 Hearing dates: 6 February 2017 Decision date: 05 December 2017 Before: McColl JA at [1], Payne JA at [90], Davies J at [91] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal.

(2) Appellants to file a notice of appeal in the form set out in the White Book within seven days.

(3) Orders 1 – 5 of the orders made by the primary judge on 14 June 2016, set aside.

(4) In their place, order that:

(a) pursuant to Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 13.4, the proceedings be dismissed.

(b) the plaintiff pay the defendants' costs.

(5) The respondent to pay fifty per cent of the appellants' costs of the appeal (including the application for leave to appeal), with a view to the appellants bearing the balance of their costs of those matters. Catchwords: LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – professional negligence and misrepresentation claim – application for summary dismissal pursuant to Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 13.4 – whether claims barred by 6 year limitation period pursuant to Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), s 14, s 63 and Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), s 68(2) – accrual of causes of action – when measurable damage suffered by respondent

LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – accrual of causes of action – whether statutory contingencies required to be satisfied – Commonwealth of Australia v Cornwell (2007) 229 CLR 519; [2007] HCA 16

COSTS – where appellants succeeded on case not advanced before primary judge – appellants to bear portion of costs notwithstanding success Legislation Cited: District Court Act 1973 (NSW) Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Fair Trading Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act 2010 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Limitation Act 1985 (ACT) Superannuation Act 1922 (Cth) Superannuation Act 1976 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2012 (NSW) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attwells v Jackson Lalic Lawyers Pty Ltd (2016) 259 CLR 1; [2016] HCA 16 Be Financial Pty Ltd (as Trustee for Be Financial Operations Trust) v Das [2012] NSWCA 164 Christie v Purves [2007] NSWCA 182 Commonwealth of Australia v Cornwell (2007) 229 CLR 519; [2007] HCA 16 Cox v Journeaux (No 2) (1935) 52 CLR 713; [1935] HCA 48 Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62; [1949] HCA 1 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 Harriton v Stephens (2006) 226 CLR 52; [2006] HCA 15 Hawkins v Clayton (1988) 164 CLR 539; [1988] HCA 15 HTW Valuers (Central Qld) Pty Ltd v Astonland Pty Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 640; [2004] HCA 54 Itek Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott (2002) 54 NSWLR 207; [2002] NSWCA 104 Jaycar Pty Ltd v Lombardo [2011] NSWCA 284 Law Society v Sephton & Co [2006] 2 AC 543; [2006] UKHL 22 Murphy v Overton Investments Pty Ltd (2004) 216 CLR 388; [2004] HCA 3 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332; [1994] HCA 4 Tamworth Base Hospital v Durant [2000] NSWCA 209 Wardley Australia Limited v The State of Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514; [1992] HCA 55 Wickstead v Browne (1992) 30 NSWLR 1; [1992] NSWCA 272 Williams v Milotin (1957) 97 CLR 465; [1957] HCA 83 Texts Cited: The Right Honourable the Lord Walker of Gestingthorpe, "Pure economic loss: The problem of timing" (2012) 20 Torts Law Journal 77 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Scott Alexander Dougall (First Applicant) David Paul Sutherland (Second Applicant) Michael James Barnes (Third Applicant) Stephen O'Halloran (Fourth Applicant) Allan Farrar (Fifth Applicant) Peter Lleonart (Sixth Applicant) Luke Morgan (Seventh Applicant) Ian Furnell (Eighth Applicant) Peter Melville (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Patrick Knowles and Derek Wong (Applicants) Ross Goodridge (Respondent)