Wollongong City Council v Papadopoulos [2019] NSWCA 178

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Wollongong City Council v Papadopoulos [2019] NSWCA 178 Hearing dates: 2 July 2019 Decision date: 19 July 2019 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [2]; McCallum JA at [87] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed in part.

2. Set aside the judgment entered in favour of Ms Papadopoulos on 6 July 2018 in the amount of $147,835.32, and in lieu thereof enter judgment in favour of Ms Papadopoulos against the Council.

3. Remit the proceeding to the District Court for further hearing, confined to the issue of damages.

4. No order as to the costs in this Court, with the intention that the Council bear its own costs of the appeal. Catchwords: DAMAGES – breach of contract – calculation of economic loss – respondent operated kiosk on premises licensed from appellant – appellant breached licence agreement – no evidence of damages – primary judge used ATO "benchmarks" for restaurant businesses to derive likely lost profits – whether primary judge could take judicial notice of benchmarks – whether benchmarks capable of sustaining damages calculated by primary judge – whether nominal damages should be awarded or the matter remitted

TRIAL – procedural fairness – court invited appellant's counsel to attend to make further submissions on damages after judgment reserved – no response from counsel – invitation repeated by court – appellant's counsel supplied written submission opposing further hearing – court proceeded to assess damages against appellant without further hearing – whether course adopted by court procedurally unfair Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), Part 6 Crown Lands Act 1989 (NSW), Part 5 Crown Land Management Act 2016 (NSW), Schedule 7 Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015, rr 4, 23 Uniform Civil Procedure rules, rr 36.15, 36.16 Cases Cited: Amaca Pty Ltd v Hicks [2011] NSWCA 295 Aytugrul v The Queen (2012) 247 CLR 170; [2012] HCA 15 Bales v Mills (2011) 81 NSWLR 498; [2011] NSWCA 226 Bull v Lee (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 362 Concrete Pty Ltd v Parramatta Design & Developments Pty Ltd (2006) 229 CLR 577; [2006] HCA 55 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid (2015) 223 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 12 Eastman v DPP (ACT) (2003) 214 CLR 318; [2003] HCA 28 Gattellaro v Westpac Banking Corporation [2004] HCA 6; 78 ALJR 394 Giannarelli v Wraith (1988) 165 CLR 543; [1988] HCA 52 McCrohon v Harith [2010] NSWCA 67 Miller & Associates Insurance Broking Pty Ltd v BMW Australia Finance Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 357; [2010] HCA 31 Notaras v Waverley Council [2007] NSWCA 333; 161 LGERA 230 NT Power Generation Pty Ltd v Power and Water Authority (2004) 219 CLR 90; [2004] HCA 48 Rondel v Worsley [1969] 1 AC 191 Royal Guardian Mortgage Management Pty Ltd v Nguyen [2016] NSWCA 88; 332 ALR 128 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332; [1994] HCA 4 Shepherd v Felt and Textiles of Australia Ltd (1931) 45 CLR 359; [1931] HCA 21 Stanwell Park (R83095) Reserve Trust v Papadopoulos [2019] NSWCA 57 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Wollongong City Council (Appellant) Sofia Papadopoulos (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: