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    Construction Law Update October 2019

    50 minute read  15.11.2019 Alison Sewell, Andrew Hales, Ben Fuller, Nikki Miller, James Kearney

    In our October edition of CLU, we cover the decisions you need to know about from the Federal Court and High Court, The Queensland Court of Appeal and the New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australian and Victorian Supreme Courts. Cases that may interest you include decisions on: the rule that someone who is not a party to a contract is not bound by or able to enforce it; circumstances where quantum meruit claims are available; the use of an unenforceable 'no injunction' clause to construe a contract; and the importance of parties having a proper ground to terminate a contract. In the Security of Payment space, we provide you with an update on the importance of giving reasons in a payment schedule, and the validity of an email purporting to be a payment schedule. We also cover decisions that clarify a contractor's entitlement to pursue unpaid payment claims in the final payment claim and a change to the legal position in Victoria with respect to the early service of payment claims. If you would like to discuss anything covered in this update, or want to see something in particular in next months update, please get in touch!

     

    Your October 2019 edition is now available. You can also access past editions.

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    Legislative update

    Victoria

    • Payment claims served early no longer valid under Victorian SOP Act | Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic)

    In the Australian courts

    Commonwealth

    • Respect my privity! | Clarence City Council v Commonwealth of Australia [2019] FCA 1568
    •  Quantum meruit claims following repudiation no longer deliver windfall gains to builders | Mann v Paterson Constructions Pty Ltd [2019] HCA 32

    New South Wales

    • What's in a name? Get your contracting entities right – Post-contractual evidence is not relevant to establish the identity of parties in a wholly written contract | BH Australia Constructions Pty Ltd v Kapeller [2019] NSWSC 1086
    • 'No injunction' clause unlawfully ousts jurisdiction but can be used to construe a contract | G&S Engineering Services Pty Ltd v MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 407
    • You've got mail! Does your email constitute a payment schedule? Will a personal undertaking by a director avoid security for costs? | Vannella Pty Limited atf Capitalist Family Trust v TFM Epping Land Pty Ltd; Decon Australia Pty Limited v TFM Epping Land Pty Ltd; Vannella Pty Limited v TFM Epping Land Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1379
    • Give me 20 good reasons (for scheduling nil) | Canterbury-Bankstown Council v Payce Communities Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1419

    Northern Territory

    • Prohibited simultaneous adjudication: you allege it, you prove it! | Ichthys LNG Pty Ltd & Anor v JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd & Anor [2019] NTSC 71

    Queensland

    • Opposing a payment claim? Make sure you comply with the Act! | Melaleuca View Pty Ltd v Sutton Constructions Pty Ltd & Ors [2019] QSC 226
    •  Parties beware – a superintendent by any other name does not always sound as sweet | SHA Premier Constructions Pty Ltd v Niclin Constructions Pty Ltd [2019] QCA 201
    • The silence of the principals | CCIG (Australia) Pty Ltd v Amicus Hospitality Group Pty Ltd [2019] QSC 232

    South Australia

    • Unlicensed builder allowed to recover under quantum meruit | Caruso v Built It Pty Ltd (In Liq) (No 3) [2019] SASC 147

    Victoria

    • Unpaid amounts can be claimed in successive payment claims | Levi v Z&H Building Development [2019] VSC 633
    • Payment claims served early no longer valid | MKA Bowen v Carelli Constructions [2019] VSC 436
    • Termination on proper grounds – take care when ending a contract | Plyboard Distributors Pty Ltd v Apostopoulos (Building and Property) [2019] VCAT 573

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