Christalli v Cassar

In *Christalli and Anor v Cassar*, the New South Wales Court of Appeal considered a dispute between the appellants, Mr and Mrs Christalli, and the respondent, Mr Cassar, concerning a contract for the sale of a property. The core of the disagreement revolved around whether the appellants had validly exercised an option to purchase the property.

The Court was required to determine whether the notice of exercise of the option was effectively given to the respondent in accordance with the terms of the contract. Specifically, the court had to consider the meaning and effect of the contractual provision stipulating how notice was to be served and whether the method employed by the appellants satisfied this requirement.

The Court of Appeal held that the notice of exercise of the option was not validly served. It reasoned that the contract clearly stipulated that notice must be given by registered post to the respondent's address. The appellants had attempted to serve notice by ordinary post, which the Court found did not comply with the express terms of the agreement. Therefore, the option had not been validly exercised.

Consequently, the Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the primary judge's finding that no binding contract for sale had come into existence.