Qiang v Raxigi Pty Ltd t/as V. Hovanessian & Associates (ABN 89 002 595 879) [2018] NSWDC 87

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Qiang v Raxigi Pty Ltd t/as V. Hovanessian & Associates (ABN 89 002 595 879) [2018] NSWDC 87 Hearing dates: 27 and 28 March 2018 Date of orders: 11 April 2018 Decision date: 11 April 2018 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff against the defendant in the amount of $259,738.02, comprising the principal sum of $231,000.00 plus interest of $28,738.02 pursuant to s 100 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW). (2) Defendant pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings as agreed or assessed, with liberty to apply. (3) Exhibits retained for 28 days. Catchwords: DEBT – plaintiff and defendant enter into contract for provision of services containing a "refund or repay" clause if the defendant does not perform the services set out in the contract to achieve the agreed result – defendant fails to achieve the agreed result – defence of mere denial and absence of evidence – judgment for the plaintiff. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – defendant fails to comply with any timetables despite three self-executing orders and costs orders – whether proceedings should be adjourned – whether defendant should be granted leave to adduce evidence despite filing no evidence – applications for adjournment and leave to adduce evidence at the hearing which has not been served beforehand refused – no issue of principle. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 100 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 12.7 Cases Cited: Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175 Chief Executive Officer of Customs v Evenfont [2007] NSWSC 431 Douglas v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1983] 3 NSWLR 126 Dubois v R & V Bergin Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 309 Glover v Australian Ultra Concrete Floors Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 80 Kirby v Sanderson Motors Pty Ltd (2001) 54 NSWLR 135 Lee v Cha [2009] NSWCA 13 Mohareb v Kelso [2017] NSWCA 98 Mohareb v Kelso (No 2) [2017] NSWCA 173 Mohareb v Kelso [2016] NSWDC 208 Muirhead v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [1997] 1 Qd R 567 Nowlan v Marson Transport Pty Ltd (2001) 53 NSWLR 116 Roberts v Morphett Constructions Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCATAP 33 Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208 Vale v Vale [2001] NSWCA 245 Young v Queensland Trustees Ltd (1956) 99 CLR 560 Zisis v Knighton [2008] NSWCA 42 Texts Cited: P. Taylor, Dr E. Elms, M. Meek SC, The Hon Justice G. Bellew, Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure NSW (LexisNexis, Australia) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Yi (Chet) Qiang Defendant: Raxigi Pty Ltd t/as V. Hovanessian & Associates (ABN 89 002 595 879) Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: Mr A Macauley Defendant: Mr V Hovanessian (with leave)