Hunter v Webb

In *Hunter v Webb*, the High Court of Australia considered a dispute between the parties concerning the interpretation of a deed of settlement.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether the deed of settlement, which purported to release the respondents from all claims arising out of a particular transaction, effectively extinguished a claim for negligent misstatement. The Court was required to determine the scope and effect of the release clause within the deed.

The High Court held that the language of the release clause was sufficiently broad to encompass the claim for negligent misstatement. Their Honours applied the principle that clear and unambiguous language in a deed of settlement will be given its ordinary meaning, and that a general release will generally extend to all causes of action existing at the time of its execution, provided they are within the contemplation of the parties. The Court found that the wording of the deed demonstrated an intention to achieve a final and comprehensive settlement of all disputes between the parties.

The appeal was dismissed.