Batie v Tan: Breach of Contract and Trespass Dispute over Rental Property
In Brian Wesley Batie v Tan Boon Hock, the High Court of Singapore ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Brian Wesley Batie, against the defendant, Tan Boon Hock, for breach of contract and trespass. The case involved a dispute over a rental property, with Batie claiming that Tan breached the agreement by failing to remove electrical wiring, not paying rent, and removing items not permitted by the agreement. The court awarded Batie $51,525 in damages, covering unpaid rent and losses incurred due to delays caused by Tan's actions.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Judgment for Plaintiff
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Judgment
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Brian Batie sued Tan Boon Hock for breach of contract and trespass related to a rental property. The court found in favor of Batie, awarding damages for unpaid rent and losses due to delay.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Wesley Batie | Plaintiff | Individual | Judgment for Plaintiff | Won | Brian Wesley Batie |
| Tan Boon Hock | Defendant | Individual | Judgment against Defendant | Lost | G Raman, V Suriamurthi |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Seiu Kin | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Brian Wesley Batie | Independent Practitioner |
| G Raman | G Raman & Partners |
| V Suriamurthi | G Raman & Partners |
4. Facts
- The Agreement between the Plaintiff and the Defendant was signed on 18 October 2000.
- The Novation Agreement was signed by the Plaintiff and the Defendant on 23 Oct 2000.
- The date of possession/handover was 1 November 2000.
- Defendant owes Plaintiff $15,250 being rental for November 2000.
- Defendant removed fire doors, fire rated ceiling and damaged the roller shutters.
5. Formal Citations
- Brian Wesley Batie v Tan Boon Hock, Suit 86/2001, [2001] SGHC 251
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Agreement between Plaintiff and Defendant signed | |
| Novation Agreement signed by Plaintiff and Defendant | |
| Date of possession/handover | |
| Defendant trespassed on the premises | |
| Writ date | |
| Judgment date |
7. Legal Issues
- Breach of Contract
- Outcome: The court found that the Defendant breached the contract.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Failure to remove electrical wiring
- Failure to pay rent
- Improper removal of equipment
- Trespass
- Outcome: The court found that the Defendant trespassed on the premises.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Monetary Damages
9. Cause of Actions
- Breach of Contract
- Trespass
10. Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Agreement
- Novation Agreement
- Breach of Contract
- Trespass
- Rental
- Re-instatement works
- Loss of profit
15.2 Keywords
- breach of contract
- trespass
- rental property
- damages
- singapore
16. Subjects
- Contract Dispute
- Property Dispute
17. Areas of Law
- Contract Law
- Property Law
- Tort Law