Togher & Anor v Alexander & Ors (No.2) [2019] NSWDC 221

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Togher & Anor v Alexander & Ors (No.2) [2019] NSWDC 221 Hearing dates: 13 - 17, 20 – 24 May 2019 Date of orders: 04 June 2019 Decision date: 04 June 2019 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraph 396. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – capacity of unincorporated association to contract – whether a verbal contract existed – whether promise to pay professional fees incomplete –whether consideration given for variation of subject matter - whether contract was breached.

CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS - Capacity of unincorporated associations to enter into contracts – parties to the contract

AGENCY - whether implied authority in agent arising from principal's acquiescence – whether ostensible authority – inferences drawn from absence of evidence of rules governing unincorporated associations

ESTOPPEL – res judicata - issue estoppel – whether claimant a privy in interest to another party in the latters' settled proceedings.

DAMAGES – where expenditure in reliance upon a promise exceeds amount of the promised payment – whether damages recoverable for loss of reputation.

PRACTICE & PROCEDURE – addition of committee members of unincorporated associations to claims made against and on behalf of unincorporated associations Legislation Cited: Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic) Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Evidence Act NSW [1995] Cases Cited: Anemtech Ltd v Eyres Reed McIntosh Ltd (1986) 10 ACLR 780 Attwells v Jackson Lalic Lawyers Pty Ltd (2016) 259 CLR 1 Baltic Shipping Co v Dillon (1993) 176 CLR 344 Boncristiano v Lohmann [1998] 4 VR 82 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 Bradley Egg Farm v Clifford [1943] 2 All ER 378 Clark v Macourt (2013) 253 CLR 1 Commissioner of Taxation v Sara Lee Household & Body Care (Aust) Pty Ltd (2000) 201 CLR 520 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64 Corpers (No. 664) Pty Ltd v NZI Securities Australia Ltd (1989) ASC 55 - 714 Crabtree-Vickers Pty Ltd v Australian Direct Mail Advertising & Addressing Company Pty Ltd (1975) 133 CLR 72 Crampton v Nugawela (1996) 41 NSWLR 176 at 195 Di Bello v De Costi Seafoods (Holdings) Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 267 Egyptian International Foreign Trade Co v Soplex Wholesale Supplies Ltd (The Raffaella) [1985] 2 Lloyd's Rep 36 Essington investments Pty Ltd v Regency Property Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 375 Fink v Fink (1946) 74 CLR 127 at 143 Freeman & Lockyer (a Firm) v Buckhurst Park Properties (Mangal) Ltd [1964] 2 QB 480 Fry v Smellie [1912] 3 KB 282 Hadley v Baxendale (1854) 9 Ex 341 at 354 Harris v Digital Pulse Pty Ltd (2003) 56 NSWLR 298 Hely-Hutchinson v Brayhead Ltd [1968] 1 QB 480 Henderson v Curtis [2008] WASC 283 Herbert Clayton & Jack Waller Ltd v Oliver [1930] AC 209 Hollis v Vabu Pty Ltd (2001) 207 CLR 21 Howard Smith & Co v Varawa (1919) 26 CLR 183 Mackay v Dick (1881) 6 App Cas 251 McCrohon v Harith [2010] NSWCA 67 Northside Developments Pty Ltd v Registrar-General (1990) 170 CLR 146 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribus (2004) 218 CLR 451 Panorama Developments (Guildford) Ltd v Fidelis Furnishing Fabrics Ltd [1971] 2 QB 71 Pavey & Matthews Pty Ltd v Paull (1987) 162 CLR 221 Robinson v Harman (1848) 1 Exch 850 Rush v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No.7) [2019] FCA 496 Russell Gould Pty Ltd v Ramangkura (No.2) [2015] NSWCA 14 Seiwa Australia Pty Ltd v Beard (2010) 75 NSWLR 74 South Sydney DRLFC v News Limited (2000) 177 ALR 611 State of NSW v Lepore (2003) 212 CLR 511 Thompson v Palmer (1933) 49 CLR 507 Tomlinson v Ramsay Food Processing Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 507 Walker v Citigroup Global Markets Australia Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 101 Ward v Eltherington [1982] Qd R 561 Texts Cited: K Fletcher, The Law Relating to Non-Profit Associations in Australia and New Zealand (LBC, 1986) Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary Bowstead & Reynolds on Agency (21st ed, 2018) Cheshire & Fifoot Law of Contract (11th Australian ed) G Dal Pont, Law of Agency (3rd ed) J F Keeler, 'Contractual Actions for Damages against Unincorporated Bodies' (1971) 34 Mod LR 615 Law of Charity (2nd ed, 2017) LexisNexis Concise Australian Legal Dictionary Restatement of Agency (3rd ed) Spencer Bower & Handley Res Judicata (4th ed) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr Alexander (Claimant) Mr McClure (First Cross-Defendant) Mr Harkness (Second Cross-Defendant) Representation: In person. File Number(s): 2017/166111 Publication restriction: Nil