Cubo Projects Ltd v S&S Import Solutions Ltd [2020] NZHC 3234
In Cubo Projects Ltd v S&S Import Solutions Ltd,[1] S&S Import Solutions Ltd failed to pay Cubo Projects Ltd and did not provide payment schedules to detail the reasons for non-payment. After obtaining a summary judgment and putting S&S Import Solutions Ltd into liquidation, Cubo Projects Ltd sought indemnity costs. The court took the view that in claiming costs, the Act only provides for what is “actual and reasonable”. While S&S Import Solutions did take a “cavalier approach” to the payment claims and the statutory demand, the court was careful not to award excessive costs.
Facts
In 2018, Cubo Projects Ltd issued a statutory demand to S&S Import Solutions Ltd for an unpaid balance that was based on the pay first, argue later principal under the Construction Contracts Act 2002 (Act). S&S Import Solutions Ltd was unresponsive to the demand, and Cubo Projects Ltd placed S&S Import Solutions Ltd into liquidation. Although the parties came to an agreement on the unpaid balances the matter of the enforcement costs became an area of contention for them.
Cubo Projects Ltd sought actual costs on an indemnity basis to the tune of $19,927.00. Under the Act, Cubo Projects Ltd argued that they had an unquestionable right to payment under the pay now, argue later principal which was only accepted by S&S Import Solutions Ltd after Cubo Projects Ltd put it on notice that they would seek indemnity costs.
S&S Import Solutions Ltd claimed that because the case was resolved quickly and the unpaid balance was small, the costs awarded should be modest. The court agreed with S&S Import Solutions Ltd, that the proceedings had indeed been uncomplicated and drew emphasis on the term reasonable in actual and reasonable costs under the Act. Cubo Projects Ltd was awarded $11,830.50 in costs.
This case confirmed that although the Construction Contracts Act 2002 allows parties to recover reasonable enforcement costs, indemnity costs are not an automatic right and can only succeed in rare cases. This was also illustrated in an earlier case Redican Allwood Limited v RAB Contracting Limited [2010] NZHC 2355, where the Judge stated that claims for indemnity costs will usually only succeed when there is a breach of confidence or blatant misconduct.
Statutory Demand versus Adjudicator’s Determination
Once an adjudicator has determined that an amount of money is payable, and the amount has not been paid in full by the party before the close of the relevant date, under the Construction Contracts Act 2002 the amount becomes a debt due. There are a number of enforcement options available such as suspension of the construction work, applying to the court for a charging order over the construction land site or entering the determination as a judgment in court.
It is generally very difficult to resist enforcement under the Act, however, there are some options depending on the method of enforcement.
Further information relating to resisting enforcement under the Act can be found here.
References
[1] Cubo Projects Ltd v S&S Import Solutions Ltd [2020] NZHC 3234
