Stockland (Constructors) Pty Limited v Darryl I Coombs

Stockland (Constructors) Pty Limited brought an action against Darryl I Coombs in the Queensland District Court seeking damages for breach of building contract and an injunction for interference with property. The plaintiff claimed that the defendant had failed to complete a building contract in accordance with the agreed terms and had unlawfully interfered with the construction site. The defendant denied the allegations and counterclaimed for damages for breach of contract and a declaration that the contract was void. The court was required to determine whether the plaintiff was entitled to damages for breach of contract, whether the defendant had unlawfully interfered with the construction site, and whether the defendant's counterclaims were valid.

The court found that the plaintiff was entitled to damages for breach of contract, as the defendant had failed to complete the building works in accordance with the agreed terms. The court also found that the defendant had unlawfully interfered with the construction site, as he had trespassed onto the site and obstructed the plaintiff's employees from carrying out their work. However, the court found that the defendant's counterclaims were invalid, as there was no evidence to support his claims. The court ordered the defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of the action, including the costs of the reference under Part 72 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005. The court also granted an injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with the construction site.