Chan v Tan [2020] NSWSC 428

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chan v Tan [2020] NSWSC 428 Hearing dates: 30, 31 March; 1, 2 and 3 April 2020; further written submissions ending 6 April 2020 Date of orders: 22 April 2020 Decision date: 22 April 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Parker J Decision: See at [158] Catchwords: CONTRACTS – construction – interpretation – joint venture deed – subsequent deed conditional on rescission of existing deed – delivery in escrow – whether subsequent deed came into force – whether termination under subsequent deed valid

CONTRACTS – construction – interpretation – joint venture deed – termination conditional on non-occurrence of event by certain date – inconsistency – omission of words by construction under Fitzgerald v Masters principle

EQUITY – fiduciary duties – fiduciary relationships – parties to joint venture – breach of obligations – director of company party to joint venture – whether director liable as accessory to the company's breach of fiduciary obligation Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Sch 2 – Australian Consumer Law, ss 21, 236 Cases Cited: Alcatel Australia Ltd v Scarcella (1998) 44 NSWLR 349 Alleyne v Darcy (1854) 4 I Ch R 199 Barnes v Addy (1874) LR 9 Ch App 244 Bowker v Burdekin (1843) 11 M & W 128; 152 ER 744 Eaves v Hickson (1861) 30 Beav 136; 54 ER 840 Farah Constructions Pty Limited v Say-Dee Pty Limited (2007) 230 CLR 89 Fitzgerald v Masters (1956) 95 CLR 420 Fyler v Fyler (1841) 3 Beav 550; 49 ER 216 Hall v Bainbridge (1848) 12 QB 698; 116 ER 1032 Royal Brunei Airlines Sdn Bhd v Tan [1995] 2 AC 378 Segboer v AJ Richardson Properties Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 253 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Edward Pei-Ying Chan (First Plaintiff) Grace Ying Ju Chen (Second Plaintiff) Joo Kee Tan (First Defendant) Pittmore Pty Limited (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: HK Insall SC (Plaintiffs) J Van Aalst (Defendants)