Cellarit Pty Ltd v Cawarrah Holdings Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 213

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Cellarit Pty Ltd v Cawarrah Holdings Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 213 Hearing dates: 15 March 2018 Decision date: 28 September 2018 Before: McColl AP at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [299]; Leeming JA at [300] Decision: See [298] Catchwords: CONTRACTS – construction – contract for storage and sale of wine on payment of commissions – whether term of contract that commission payable at a fixed rate of 15% over term of contract – whether appellant entitled to vary rate at its discretion

CONTRACTS – variation – mutual assent – knowledge of increased commission rates – whether conduct of respondent in paying increased commission rates manifested acceptance of variation

CONTRACTS – variation – consideration – where benefits of contract foregone and liability incurred for increased seller's commission

EVIDENCE – Browne v Dunn – documentary evidence – where witness on notice of allegation upon which party intends to rely – whether rule in Browne v Dunn requires cross-examination of witness – whether judge obliged to accept evidence on which no cross-examination

EVIDENCE – opinion evidence – opinion rule –– tables summarising and analysing invoices – whether opinion rule applied –– Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 79

CIVIL PROCEDURE – Court of Appeal – cross-appeal – whether notice of cross-appeal required – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 51.17

CIVIL PROCEDURE – Court of Appeal – notice of cross-appeal – form – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 51.18 Legislation Cited: District Court Act 1973 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1983] 1 NSWLR 1 Anikin v Sierra [2004] HCA 64; (2004) 79 ALJR 452 Apollo Shower Screens Pty Ltd v Building and Construction Industry Long Service Payments Corporation (1985) 1 NSWLR 561 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVth Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Hellicar (2012) 247 CLR 345; [2012] HCA 17 Bale v Mills (2011) 81 NSWLR 498; [2011] NSWCA 226 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; (1774) 98 ER 969 Bonny Glen Pty Ltd v Country Energy [2009] NSWCA 26 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153; [2001] NSWCA 61 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia v Sara Lee Household & Body Care (Australia) Pty Ltd (2000) 201 CLR 520; [2000] HCA 35 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2007) 160 FCR 466; [2007] FCAFC 132 Concut Pty Ltd v Worrell [2000] HCA 64; (2000) 75 ALJR 312 Crawford Fitting Co v Sydney Valve & Fittings Pty Ltd (1988) 14 NSWLR 438 Dearman v Dearman (1908) 7 CLR 549; [1908] HCA 84 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd [2017] HCA 12; (2017) 91 ALJR 486 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Empirnall Holdings Pty Ltd v Machon Paull Partners Pty Ltd (1988) 14 NSWLR 523 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Gardiner v Grigg (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 524 Henry Kendall & Sons (A Firm) v William Lillico & Sons Ltd [1969] 2 AC 31 Hightime Investments Pty Ltd v Adamus Resources Ltd [2012] WASC 295 Hillam v Iacullo (2015) 90 NSWLR 422; [2015] NSWCA 196 Integrated Computer Services Pty Ltd v Digital Equipment Corp (Aust) Pty Ltd (1988) 5 BPR 97,326 Johnston v Brightstars Holding Company Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 150 JR Consulting & Drafting Pty Ltd v Cummings (2016) 329 ALR 625; (2016) 116 IPR 440 Kriketos v Livschitz [2009] NSWCA 96 Live Board Holdings Ltd v Cody Live Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 302 Mannai Investment Co Ltd v Eagle Star Life Assurance Co Ltd [1997] AC 749 Martech International Pty Ltd v Energy World Corp Ltd [2007] FCAFC 35; (2007) 248 ALR 353 Martech International Pty Ltd v Energy World Corporation Ltd [2006] FCA 1004 Masterton Homes Pty Ltd v Palm Assets Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 234; (2009) 261 ALR 382 Moratic Pty Ltd v Gordon [2007] NSWSC 5; (2007) 13 BPR 24,713 Morley & Ors v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2010] NSWCA 331; (2010) 274 ALR 205 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd [1992] HCA 66; (1992) 67 ALJR 170 North Ocean Shipping Co Ltd v Hyundai Construction Co Ltd [1979] QB 705 NU v NSW Secretary of Family and Community Services (2017) 95 NSWLR 577; [2017] NSWCA 221 Provident Capital Ltd v Papa (No 2) [2013] NSWCA 156 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164; [1965] HCA 34 Qantas Airways Ltd v Gama [2008] FCAFC 69; (2008) 167 FCR 537 Seymour v Australian Broadcasting Commission (1977) 19 NSWLR 219 The Proprietors Strata Plan 30102 v Energy Australia (formerly known as Sydney Electricity) [1997] NSWCA 25 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165; [2004] HCA 52 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) [1985] HCA 28; (1985) 59 ALJR 481 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Westport Insurance Corporation v Gordian Runoff Ltd (2011) 244 CLR 239; [2011] HCA 37 Whisprun Pty Ltd v Dixon (2003) 77 ALJR 1598; [2003] HCA 48 Texts Cited: H G Beale et al (eds), Chitty on Contracts (32nd ed, 2015, Sweet & Maxwell) J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence (looseleaf, 1991, LexisNexis) K Lewison, The Interpretation of Contracts (6th ed, 2015, Sweet & Maxwell London) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Cellarit Pty Ltd (ACN 092 360 195) (Appellant) Cawarrah Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 094 092 734) (First Respondent) Crusader Pty Ltd (ACN 094 092 734) (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: N J Kidd SC (Appellant) S Robertson with R E Raffell (Respondents)