CPB Contractors Pty Ltd v Rizzani De Eccher Australia Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1798

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: CPB Contractors Pty Ltd v Rizzani De Eccher Australia Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1798 Hearing dates: 4 and 8 December 2017 Date of orders: 19 December 2017 Decision date: 19 December 2017 Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Dismiss the defendant's motion for a stay of the proceedings. 2. Order the defendant within 14 days to sign and return to the plaintiff the Joint Venture Board resolution dated 19 September 2017. 3. Reserve the question of costs. 4. Direct the parties within 28 days to serve short written submissions on the question of costs with a view to the question being determined on the papers. Catchwords: CONTRACT – Interpretation – Whether "urgent" in "urgent injunctive or declaratory relief" is to be read distributively so as also to qualify "declaratory relief"

ESTOPPEL – Equitable estoppels – Promissory estoppel – Relief Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 248G International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth), s 7(2) Cases Cited: ACD Tridon Inc v Tridon Australia Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 896 ACS v Ampolex (1995) 38 NSWLR 504 AED Oil Ltd & AED Services Pte Ltd v Puffin FPSO Ltd (2010) 27 VR 22; [2010] VSCA 37 Anaconda Nickel Ltd v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd [2004] VSCA 167 Ashton v Pratt (2015) 88 NSWLR 281; [2015] NSWCA 12 Australian Securities Commission v Ampolex (1995) 38 NSWLR 504 Bell Group Ltd (in liq) v Westpac Banking Corporation (No.9) (2008) 39 WAR 1 Byrnes v Kendle (2011) 243 CLR 253; [2011] HCA 26 Cherry v Steele-Park [2017] NSWCA 295 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v The Australian Industrial Relations Commission [2001] HCA 16; (2001) 203 CLR 645 Costin v Costin (1997) 7 BPR 15,167 CPB Contractors Pty Ltd v JKC Australian LNG Pty Ltd [2011] WASC 112 Crown Melbourne Ltd v Cosmopolitan Hotel (Vic) Pty Ltd (2016) 333 ALR 384; [2015] HCA 26 Cubillo v Commonwealth; Gunner v Commonwealth [2000] FCA 1084 DHJPM v Blackthorn Resources Ltd (2011) 83 NSWLR 728; [2011] NSWCA 348 Dillon v RBS Group (Australia) Pty Limited [2017] FCA 896 Dome Resources NL v Silver [2008] NSWCA 322 Doueihi v Construction Technologies Australia Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 105 Electra Air Conditioning BV v Seeley International Pty Ltd [2008] FCAFC 169 Equititrust Ltd v Franks [2009] NSWCA 128 at [73] Franklin v Manufacturers Mutual Insurances (1935) 36 SR (NSW) 76 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd [2009] NSWCA 407 Graham H Roberts Pty Ltd v Maurberth Investments Pty Ltd [1974] 1 NSWLR 93 Green v Econia Pty Ltd [2016] SASC 153 Hawcroft General Trading Co Pty Ltd v Hawcroft [2017] NSWCA 91 Henderson v Louttit (1894) 21 R (Ct of Sess) 674 Howbeach Coal Company Ltd v Teague (1880) 5 H&N 157 Hunt v Carew (1649) 21 ER 786 Jefferys v Jefferys (1841) Cr & Ph 138; 41 ER 443 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 258 Jorden v Money (1854) 10 ER 868 Legione v Hateley (1983) 152 CLR 406 Lipman Pty Ltd v Emergency Services Low v Bouverie [1891] 3 Ch 82 Mercanti v Mercanti (2016) 50 WAR 495 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Newey v Westpac Banking Corporation [2014] NSWCA 319 Orr v Ford (1989) 167 CLR 316 Perry v Anthony [2016] NSWCA 56 Phoenix Commercial Enterprises Ptv Ltd v City of Canada Bay Council [2010] NSWCA 64 Poliwka v Heven Holdings Pty Ltd (No.2) (1992) 8 ACSR 747 Re Alma Spinning Co (Bottomley's case) 1880 16 Ch D 681 Rodger v De Gelder (2011) 80 NSWLR 594; [2011] NSWCA 97 Saleh v Romanous (2010) 79 NSWLR 453; [2010] NSWCA 274 Seeley International Pty Ltd v Electra Air Conditioning BV [2008] FCA 29 Sidhu v van Dyke (2014) 251 CLR 505; [2014] HCA 19 Silver v Dome Resources NL (2007) 62 ACSR 539; [2007] NSWSC 455 Silver v Dome Resources NL (2007) 62 ASCR 539 Spettabile Consorzio Vemeziano de Armamento e Navigazione v Northumberland Shipping Co Ltd (1919) 121 LT 628 Superannuation Board [2011] NSWCA 163 Swiss Screens (Australia) Pty Ltd v Burgess (1987) 11 ACLR 756Sydney Consumers' Milk & Ice Co Ltd v Hawkesbury Dairy & Ice Society Ltd (1931) 31 SR (NSW) 458 Thompson v Palmer (1933) 49 CLR 507 Thorner v Major [2009] 1 WLR 776; [2009] UKHL 18 Van Dyke v Sidhu [2013] NSWCA 198 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 Westpac Banking Corp v Tanzone Pty Ltd (2000) 9 BPR 17,521; [2000] NSWCA 25 Texts Cited: K Handley, Estoppel by Conduct and Election (2nd ed, 2016, Sweet & Maxwell) JD Heydon, Cross on Evidence (8th ed, 2010) K Lewison and D Hughes, The Interpretation of Contracts in Australia, LawBook Co, 2012 A Robertson, "Three Models of Promissory Estoppel" (2013) 7 Journal of Equity 226 A Silink, "Can Promissory Estoppel Be an Independent Source of Rights?" (2015) 40(1) The University of Western Australia Law Review 39 ICF Spry, Principles of Equitable Remedies (8th ed, 2010) ICF Spry, The Principles of Equitable Remedies (9th ed, 2014) Young, Croft and Smith, On Equity (2009, Lawbook Co) R Quirk et al, A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (1991) Category: Principal judgment Parties: CPB Contractors Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Rizzani de Eccher Australia Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: N Nicholls SC with H Morrison (Plaintiff) F Hicks SC with D Robertson (Defendant)