Harris for and on behalf of the estate of Harris and Harris v Rapisarda [2019] NSWSC 1088

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Harris for and on behalf of the estate of Harris and Harris v Rapisarda [2019] NSWSC 1088 Hearing dates: 22 August 2019 Decision date: 22 August 2019 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Stevenson J Decision: Strike out application dismissed Catchwords: ESTOPPEL – Anshun estoppel – where proprietors commenced earlier proceedings against builder alleging defective workmanship – where defendant architects prepared the building contract and supervised builder's work but were not joined in earlier proceedings – where earlier proceedings referred out and referee's report adopted – where proprietors do not in these proceedings seek findings inconsistent with those of referee in earlier proceedings – whether unreasonable for proprietors not to have joined architects in the earlier proceedings so that they are now estopped from bringing these proceedings

CIVIL PROCEDURE – pleadings – striking out – abuse of process Legislation Cited: Australian Consumer Law Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Aldi Stores Ltd v WSP Group Plc [2008] 1 WLR 748 Ekes v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2014] NSWCA 336 Gibbs v Kinna [1999] 2 VR 19; [1998] VSCA 52 Habib v Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 231 Haines v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1995) 43 NSWLR 404; [1995] NSWSC 136 Harris v Morabito Holdings Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 912 Henderson v Henderson (1843) 3 Hare 100; (1843) 67 ER 313 Johnson v Gore Wood & Co [2002] 2 AC 1; [2001] 2 WLR 72 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589; [1981] HCA 45 Redowood Pty Ltd v Link Market Services Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 286 Rippon v Chilcotin Pty Ltd (2001) 53 NSWLR 198; [2001] NSWCA 142 Solak v Registrar of Titles (2011) 33 VR 40; [2011] VSCA 279 Timbercorp Finance Pty Ltd (in liq) v Collins; Timbercorp Finance Pty Ltd (in liq) v Tomes (2016) 259 CLR 212; [2016] HCA 44 Tomlinson v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 507; [2015] HCA 28 UBS AG v Tyne (2018) 360 ALR 184; [2018] HCA 45 Texts Cited: P W Young, C Croft and M L Smith, On Equity (2009, Thomson Reuters) Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: John Harris for and on behalf of the estate of Arthur Harris and Anne Harris (Plaintiff/Respondent) Horace Rapisarda (First Defendant/Applicant) H&A Building Designers Pty Ltd trading as MLR Architects (Second Defendant/Applicant) Representation: Counsel: P J Bambagiotti Plaintiff/Respondent L Shipway (Defendants/Applicants)