Fenwick Elliott Grace achieves a first tier rating by Doyle’s Guide in 2021
Delivery by hyperlink
Electronic communication has become the new normal, particularly since the arrival of COVID-19. The legal profession has been slow to accept the new normal, but recent months have accelerated that progress.
In this Update we examine a recent South Australian Supreme Court case dealing with the effectiveness of electronic communication in the context of the strict requirements of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (SA).
Buying from an owner builder
This Update examines the liability of owner builders when they sell their residence following substantial renovations. This decision from the NSW Court of Appeal may be of particular interest given the current popularity of reality TV shows about home renovations. In this case the purchasers of the renovated property suffered massive losses due to substantial hidden defects. Although the purchasers were initially awarded over $1 million at trial, ultimately they were unable to recover any funds. Read on to find out more.
Terminating the engagement
A recent NSW Supreme Court decision in Southern Han Breakfast Point Pty Limited v Lewence Construction Pty Limited [2015] NSWSC 502 examines whether an adjudicator has the power to make a determination that the builder is owed a further progress payment under the AS4000-1997 contract after the work has been taken out of its hands.
This decision is likely to have persuasive influence in SA and other States that mirror the NSW legislation and may provide a strategic advantage to principals.
A new Draft Standard – AS11000
Standards Australia has released a draft version of AS11000 intended to merge and replace the suites of contracts related to AS2124:1992 and AS4000:1997. The draft was put together with input from a number of organisations including Austroads, the Australian Procurement and Construction Council, the Australian Institute of Architects, the Civil Contractors Federation of Australia, the […]
Dropbox for service?
This Update deals with the service of documents by electronic methods in the construction industry. While Courts are slowly moving towards the adoption of electronic systems for their own purposes, it appears that systems such as Dropbox or Aconex are not acceptable to the Court when it comes to ensuring that documents have been formally served on another party. While electronic service is convenient, it remains important that the other party has “received” the document.
Idle or hanging around?
In this Update we look at a recent NT Supreme Court review of an adjudicator’s determination as to standby charges for a dredge working on the Marine Supply Base project. Neither party had brought to the attention of the adjudicator the point on which he decided whether the progress payment was due. While the Court said that the adjudicator was entitled to consider the point, it found he had denied natural justice to them by not asking for submissions on it.
Adjudication after termination?
Update 1406 looks at a recent decision of the Queensland Supreme Court where a concretor successfully claimed money from a head contractor through adjudication after the subcontract was terminated. The Court was asked to decide whether the adjudicator had made an error. We also look at the SA and NSW legislation on the same point and note a small but significant difference that will probably result in a different outcome.
Ignoring a Payment Claim
The NT Supreme Court has very recently clarified how the Construction Contract (Security of Payments) Act operates when a payment claim is ignored. In the similar legislation applicable in SA and the Eastern States, contractors have to promptly respond to a payment claim with a payment schedule to avoid liability for the full amount of the claim. The NT and WA adopted a less stringent regime and it has not been clear what liability arises when a payment claim is ignored. That situation has now changed.
Building Work Contractor’s Act 1995 – Magistrates Court Jurisdiction Threshold
The Magistrates Court in South Australia has a special jurisdiction under the Building Work Contractor’s Act 1995 not only to order compensation against a builder, but also to require a defaulting builder under a Domestic Building Work Contract to perform remedial work. The conventional wisdom at common law is that injunctions are not granted requiring builders […]
