Cohen v Morgans [2019] NSWSC 1634

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cohen v Morgans [2019] NSWSC 1634 Hearing dates: 5 July 2019 Date of orders: 22 November 2019 Decision date: 22 November 2019 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Refer the parties to court-annexed mediation on a date to be fixed as to the costs assessment process invoked by the defendant. 2. Direct the parties to liaise with Ward CJ in Eq's Associate for the fixing of a date for court-annexed mediation. 3. Order that the summons filed 14 December 2018 be dismissed. 4. Discharge the injunction granted by Pembroke J on 14 December 2018, with effect from the termination of the mediation ordered in Order 1 above. 5. Order the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs of the summons. Catchwords: CONTRACTS — Formation — Agreement – Deed of Settlement – whether binding agreement reached between parties in relation to the payment of legal costs through acceptance of a counter-offer in a telephone conversation or through a combination of the acceptance of counter-offer, the forwarding of an email attaching an executed deed of settlement and release, and the receipt of that document – alternatively whether provision of a draft of the deed of settlement amounted to offer capable on acceptance of giving rise to binding agreement – held that there was no common intention, objectively ascertainable, on the part of the parties to be bound unless and until the agreement was documented in writing and signed – summons dismissed with costs and orders made for parties to attend a court-annexed mediation. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Cases Cited: Allen v Carbone (1975) 132 CLR 528; [1975] HCA 14 Anaconda Nickel Ltd v Tarmoola Pty Ltd (2000) 22 WAR 101; [2000] WASCA 27 Anthony v Morton [2018] NSWSC 1884 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVth Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 Axelsen v O'Brien (1949) 80 CLR 219; [1949] HCA 18 Barrier Wharfs Ltd v W Scott Fell & Co Ltd (1908) 5 CLR 647 at 668-669; [1908] HCA 88 Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd v GR Securities Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 622 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153; [2001] NSWCA 61 Byrnes v Kendle (2011) 243 CLR 253; [2011] HCA 26 Calderbank v Calderbank [1975] 3 All ER 333; (1975) 3 WLR 586 Crossco No. 4 Unlimited v Jolan Ltd [2012] 2 All ER 754 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Limited (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Farmer v Honan (1919) 26 CLR 183; [1919] HCA 13 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd (2009) 76 NSWLR 603; [2009] NSWCA 407 Geebung Investments Pty Ltd v Varga Group Investments No 8 Pty Ltd (1995) 7 BPR 97,578 Godecke v Kirwan (1973) 129 CLR 629; [1973] HCA 38 GR Securities Pty Ltd v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 631 International Air Transport Association v Ansett Australia Holdings Ltd (2008) 234 CLR 151; [2008] HCA 3 John Holland Pty Limited v Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 451 Kids for Life v Chamberlain Group [2014] NSWSC 1561 Manatee Towing Co v OceanBulk Maritime S A (The "Bay Ridge") [1999] 2 Lloyd's Rep 227 Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353; [1954] HCA 72 Michael Lahodiuk v Vincent Pace and Prid Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 512 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Vass [2018] NSWCA 259 Nurisvan Investment Ltd v Anyoption Holdings Ltd [2017] VSCA 141 Ormwave Pty Limited v Smith [2007] NSWCA 210 OXS Pty Ltd v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2016] NSWCA 120 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas (2004) 218 CLR 451; [2004] HCA 35 Pan American World Airways Inc v Commonwealth of Australia (1977) 7 BPR 97,629 Pavlovic v Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd (2015) 90 NSWLR 605; [2015] HCA 313 Powell v Jones [1968] SASR 394 Smit International Singapore Pte Ltd v Kurnia Dewi Shipping SA [1997] 1 Lloyd's Rep 552 Taylor v Johnson (1983) 151 CLR 422; [1983] HCA 5 Thorby v Goldberg (1964) 112 CLR 597; [1964] HCA 41 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165; [2004] HCA 52 Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Ltd v Ken Morgan Motors Pty Ltd [1994] 2 VR 106 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Heydon on Contract (2019, Thomson Reuters) K Lewison and D Hughes, The Interpretation of Contracts in Australia (2012, Lawbook Co) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew Cohen (Plaintiff) Nada Morgans (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: H El-Hage (Plaintiff) GA Sirtes SC with LM Johnston (Defendant)