Recent Cases

Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited v Wright Prospecting Pty Limited, Wright Prospecting Pty Limited v Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited [2015] HCA 37 Contract – Construction of terms – Where contract concerned acquisition of rights in relation to temporary reserves and payment of royalties in respect of iron ore mined – Where royalty payable in respect of iron ore mined from “MBM area” – Whether “MBM area” refers to physical area of land or rights in relation to that land – Meaning of phrase “deriving title through or under”.

Poole v Chubb Insurance of Australia Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1832 – insurance – indemnity – whether insured entitled to indemnity for legal costs incurred at an ICAC hearing – whether insured knew that submission made to Government Department false or misleading – whether insured knew that public inquiry into grant of mining exploration licence likely – whether insured fraudulently in breach of duty of disclosure – whether insured fraudulently misrepresented the position when answering questions in proposal

Ransley v Chubb Insurance of Australia Ltd [2015] NSWSC 1350 – insurance – calculation of interest under s 57 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) – date from which it was unreasonable for insurers to withhold payment

Adrenaline Pty Ltd v Bathurst Regional Council [2015] NSWCA 123 – appeals – notice of contention – whether respondent permitted to raise defences not run at trial – Council not permitted to run defences of causation or change of position – Council permitted to run defence of good consideration – whether question of law which was not fully argued, not determined by primary judge and not necessary to decide should be decided

Wright Prospecting Pty Limited & Ors v Hamersley Iron Pty Limited & Ors  [2013] NSWSC 536 and [2013] NSWSC 709 – contract – mining agreement – proper construction – royalty payments – agreed quantum

EagleBurgmann Australia Pty Ltd v Ross Grant Leabeater & Anor [2012] NSWSC 573 – employment – restraint of trade – breach of fiduciary duty – account of profits

Firmstone & Anor v Everest Property Holdings Pty Ltd & Anor [2011] HCATrans 216 (special leave refused); [2010] NSWCA 315; [2010] NSWSC 32; – property – vendor and purchaser – notice to complete – termination for failure to complete

Gray v Hamilton James & Bruce Pty Limited [2011] FWA 6884; [2011] FWA 4104 – employment – unfair dismissal – jurisdictional objection – application of award or enterprise agreement

Purcell v Tullett Prebon (Australia) Pty Limited [2010] NSWCA 150; [2009] NSWSC 1079 – employment – repudiation – direction to return to work – termination for breach – liquidated damages

Growth Equities Corporation Limited v Genesis Growth Investments Pty Limited [2010] NSWSC 1302 – insolvency – winding up – application to set aside statutory demand – dispute as to existence of debt

Owners Strata Plan 62930 v Kell & Rigby Holdings Pty Limited [2010] NSWSC 612 – building and construction – residential units – statutory warranty – quantum

ICAP Australia Pty Limited v BGC Partners (Australia) Pty Limited [2009] NSWCA 307; [2009] NSWSC 306 – practice and procedure – motion to set aside subpoena – fishing purpose of subpoena

Bearing Point Australia Pty limited v Robert Hillard [2008] VSC 115 – employment – restraint of trade – invalidity of post employment restraints

McNally v Harris [2008] NSWSC 659 – trusts – constitution of discretionary trust – breach of trust – transfer of shares
Sudojo Consulting Pty Limited v Africa Pacific Capital Pty Limited [2008] NSWSC 353 – contract – consultancy agreement – terms of agreement – remuneration
European Hire Cars Pty Limited v Armstrong [2007] NSWSC 629 – contract – claim against deceased estate – claim for purchase of motor vehicle

Kell & Rigby Pty Limited v Guardian International Properties Pty Limited [2007] NSWSC 554 – building and construction – security for payment

Linwar Securities Pty Limited v Christopher Savage [2006] NSWSC 786 – employment – interlocutory injunction – restraint of trade – reasonableness of restraint

Tradition Australia Pty Limited v Gunson [2006] NSWSC 298 – employment – interlocutory injunction – restraint of trade – serious question to be tried

ICAP Australia Pty Limited v BGC Partners (Australia) Pty Limited [2005] FCA 130 – employment – interlocutory injunction – competitor hiring broking team – resignation en masse