Phung v Phung [2019] NSWSC 117

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Phung v Phung [2019] NSWSC 117 Hearing dates: 4 February 2019 – 6 February 2019 Date of orders: 19 February 2019 Decision date: 19 February 2019 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Darke J Decision: Plaintiff entitled to orders for specific performance Catchwords: LAND LAW – contract for sale of land – claim for specific performance – whether oral contract for sale of land concluded – defendant subsequently signs written note referring to agreement to "transfer the ownership" of property – whether written note satisfies writing requirements under Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 23C(1)(a) and 54A – doctrine of part performance – whether sufficient acts of part performance – plaintiff goes into possession, pays outgoings and undertakes renovations – sufficient acts of part performance established – whether specific performance should be refused on the basis of unfairness or hardship – specific performance granted Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 23C, 54A Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 68 Cases Cited: Baloglow v Konstantinidis (2001) 11 BPR 20,721; [2001] NSWCA 451 Cavallari v Premier Refrigeration Company Pty Ltd (1952) 85 CLR 20 Cooney v Burns (1922) 30 CLR 216 Dougan v Ley (1946) 71 CLR 142 Dowsett v Reid (1912) 15 CLR 695 Fragomeni v Fogliani (1968) 42 ALJR 263 Fullers' Theatres Ltd v Musgrove (1923) 31 CLR 524 Harvey v Edwards, Dunlop & Co Ltd (1927) 39 CLR 302 Johnson v Buttress (1936) 56 CLR 113 Khoury v Khouri (2006) 66 NSWLR 241; [2006] NSWCA 184 Maddison v Alderson (1883) 8 App Cas 467 McBride v Sandland (1918) 25 CLR 69 Pipikos v Trayans (2018) 92 ALJR 880; [2018] HCA 39 Regent v Millett (1976) 133 CLR 679 Sinclair, Scott & Co Ltd v Naughton (1929) 43 CLR 310 Stewart v Kennedy (1890) 15 App Cas 75 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418 Tamplin v James (1880) 15 Ch D 215 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Cam Vinh Phung (Plaintiff) Cam Tai Phung (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms M Gaven (Plaintiff) Mr K G Bennett (Defendant)