Universal Truss Management Pty Ltd Trading as Universal Trusses v Abdul Samad Rashidi Trading as Blackbridge Homes (Civil Dispute)

Universal Truss Management Pty Ltd, trading as Universal Trusses, filed a debt claim against Abdul Samad Rashidi, trading as Blackbridge Homes, in the Civil and Administrative Tribunal (CAT). Universal Trusses sought payment of an outstanding debt for trusses supplied to Rashidi for a construction project. Rashidi counterclaimed for breach of contract, alleging that Universal Trusses failed to deliver the trusses on time, causing delays and additional costs.

The primary legal issues before the Tribunal were whether Universal Trusses was entitled to the full amount of the debt claimed and whether Rashidi's counterclaim for breach of contract was valid. The Tribunal had to determine whether Universal Trusses had fulfilled its contractual obligations and whether Rashidi's alleged damages were a direct result of the delay in delivery.

The Tribunal found that Universal Trusses had supplied the trusses as per the contract terms and that Rashidi had failed to provide evidence of any delays or additional costs attributable to the late delivery. The Tribunal ruled that Rashidi's counterclaim for breach of contract was unsubstantiated. Consequently, the Tribunal ordered that Rashidi pay Universal Trusses $3,384.02, the amount claimed for the trusses supplied. The Tribunal dismissed Rashidi's counterclaim.