New Zealand Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

New Zealand Case Law

Mitigation and novus actus interveniens
  • 30 Sept 2008

    BODY CORPORATE 188529 AND ORS V NORTH SHORE CITY COUNCIL AND ORS HC AK CIV 2004-404-3230

    Citation
    openlaw-137ef806_bfe1_42a2_ba9b_13a606a3aa8c.pdf
    Court
    High Court

    The developers breached a non-delegable duty to supervise construction and are liable for economic losses caused by identified weathertightness defects; reasonable targeted repairs undertaken on expert advice count as failed mitigation and damages include full re-clad costs plus wasted repair costs; individual plaintiffs are entitled to general distress damages of $25,000 each on the facts; Council settled with plaintiffs but is entitled to a contribution from developers apportioned 85% to developers and 15% to Council; designer succeeds on prior dismissal of plaintiffs' claim.

    • Weathertightness defects
    • Damages - economic loss and repair costs
    • General damages for distress
    • Mitigation and novus actus interveniens
    • Contribution between tortfeasors