Morrison v Moss & Anor [2019] NSWDC 746

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Morrison v Moss & Anor [2019] NSWDC 746 Hearing dates: 16 – 19 September, 5 – 6 December 2019 Date of orders: 12 December 2019 Decision date: 12 December 2019 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraph 464 – 466. Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – construction works for residential dwelling – whether practical completion arose through owner's entry into possession – whether Builders in breach of implied statutory warranties – whether works defective or incomplete – whether works 'practically complete' – whether Builders should be ordered to rectify defects.

CONTRACT – existence of implied term as to date for completion of works – whether implied term breached – whether contract validly terminated – whether terminating party entitled to exercise express right to terminate if it is itself in breach.

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – referral of issue of costs of rectification of defective works to referee. Legislation Cited: Environmental Protection Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), ss 14B, 48MA Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Allphones Retail Pty Ltd v Hoy Mobile Pty Ltd (2009) 178 FCR 57 Australian Financial Services and Leasing Ltd v Hills Industries Ltd (2014) 253 CLR 560 Bellgrove v Elridge (1954) 90 CLR 613 Clements v Murphy [2018] NSWCATAP 152 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of NSW (1982) 148 CLR 337 Con-Stan Industries Pty Ltd v Norwich Winterthur Insurance (Aust) Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 226 Dovuro Pty Ltd v Wilkins (2003) 215 CLR 317 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423 Ettridge v Vermin Board of the District of Murat Bay [1928] SASR 124 Gilbert Ash Ltd v Modern Engineering (Bristol) Ltd [1974] AC 689 Master Glass Facades Pty Ltd v Pollak [2017] NSWCATAD 45 McDonald v Denny Lascelles Ltd (1933) 48 CLR 457 Mondel v Steel (1841) 151 ER 1288 Tabcorp v Bowen Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 236 CLR 272 The Owners – Strata Plan No. 66375 v King [2018] NSWCA 170 The Owners-Strata Plan 78465 v M D Constructions Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 162 The Owners-Strata Plan No. 76674 v Di Blasio Constructions Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1067 The Owners-Strata Plan No. 89041 v Galyan Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 619 Thompson v Palmer (1933) 49 CLR 507 Wheeler v Ecroplot Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 61 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr J Morrison (Plaintiff) Mr A Moss (Defendant) Ms E Moss (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Bland Mr G Campbell