Bitar Pty Ltd v Hebbel Constructions Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 39

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Bitar Pty Ltd v Hebbel Constructions Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 39 Hearing dates: 20 February 2019 Date of orders: 05 March 2019 Decision date: 05 March 2019 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; McCallum JA at [44]. Decision: (1) Summons seeking leave to appeal dismissed.

(2) Applicant pay the respondent's costs of the summons. Catchwords: APPEAL – Leave to appeal from interlocutory decision adopting referee reports – where applicant afforded opportunity to make submissions to referee and had not done so – whether manifest injustice in primary judge not considering afresh questions of fact decided by the referee

EVIDENCE – Discretions – Exclusion of evidence – Civil proceedings – refusal of admission of late material – where primary judge had regard to unexplained delay and case management principles – restraint in reviewing discretionary decision concerning question of practice and procedure Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 57, 58, 59 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101(2)(e) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 20.24 Cases Cited: Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170; [1981] HCA 39 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Chocolate Factory Apartments Pty Ltd v Westpoint Finance Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 784 Flender (Aust) Pty Ltd v Warman International Ltd (Court of Appeal (NSW), 7 and 18 August 1997, 19 June 1998, unrep) House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 In the Will of F B Gilbert (1946) 46 SR(NSW) 318 Mainteck Services Pty Ltd v Stein Heurtey SA (2014) 89 NSWLR 633; [2014] NSWCA 184 Nine Network Pty Ltd v Kennedy Miller Television Pty Ltd (Court of Appeal (NSW), 6 May 1994, unrep) Rich v Westpac Banking Corporation [2014] NSWCA 136 Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Smith (2017) 95 NSWLR 597; [2017] NSWCA 206 Westpoint Management Ltd v Chocolate Factory Apartments Ltd [2007] NSWCA 253 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Bitar Pty Limited (Applicant) Hebbel Constructions Pty Limited (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P E King (Applicant) P Wiggins (Solicitor) (Respondent)