Cohen v Zanzoul trading as Uniq Building Group [2020] NSWSC 592

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cohen v Zanzoul trading as Uniq Building Group [2020] NSWSC 592 Hearing dates: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 11 May 2020 Date of orders: 19 May 2020 Decision date: 19 May 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Stevenson J Decision: Plaintiffs repudiated building contract; plaintiffs have accrued right to damages for defective building work; defendant has accrued rights to recover unpaid payment claims as a debt Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – residential building work – whether plaintiff principals repudiated their obligations under the contract – whether defendant builder thereby exonerated from any liability for defective work – accrued rights of parties

CONTRACTS – residential building work – whether plaintiff principals repudiated their obligations under the contract – whether defendant builder thereby exonerated from any liability for defective work – accrued rights of parties

RESTITUTION – whether restitution on the basis of a quantum meruit available where there is an enforceable contract and rights have accrued under that contract Legislation Cited: Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Cases Cited: Baltic Shipping Co v Dillon (1993) 176 CLR 344; [1993] HCA 4 Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union v Mammoet Australia Pty Ltd (2013) 248 CLR 619; [2013] HCA 36 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Reliance Carpet Co Pty Ltd (2008) 236 CLR 342; [2008] HCA 22 Foran v Wight (1989) 168 CLR 385; [1989] HCA 51 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd (2007) 233 CLR 115; [2007] HCA 61 Laurinda Pty Ltd v Capalaba Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd (1989) 166 CLR 623; [1989] HCA 23 Mann v Paterson Constructions Pty Ltd [2019] HCA 32 McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Ltd (1993) 48 CLR 457; [1933] HCA 25 Peter Turnbull & Co Pty Ltd v Mundus Trading Co (Australasia) Pty Ltd (1954) 90 CLR 235; [1954] HCA 25 Sinason and Teicher Inter-American Grain Corporation v Oil Cakes and Oil Seeds Trading Co Limited [1954] 1 WLR 935 Slowey v Lodder (1901) 20 NZLR 321 Sopov v Kane Constructions Pty Ltd (2007) 20 VR 127; [2007] VSCA 257 Westralian Farmers Ltd v Commonwealth Agricultural Service Engineers Ltd (1936) 54 CLR 361; [1936] HCA 6 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Heydon on Contract (2019, Thomson Reuters) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Paul Cohen (First Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) Phylicia Cohen (Second Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) Danny Zanzoul t/as Uniq Building Group (Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: Mr T T Bors (Plaintiffs/Cross-Defendants) Mr J Young with Ms R Thrift (Defendant/Cross-Claimant)