Veria Engineering v Lam Hong Leong Aluminium: Dispute over Erroneous Credit Note and Counter-Claim
In a dispute between Veria Engineering & Development Pte Ltd and Lam Hong Leong Aluminium Pte Ltd, the High Court of Singapore heard an appeal concerning a counterclaim awarded to Lam Hong Leong Aluminium. Veria Engineering, the appellant, challenged the trial judge's decision regarding a debit note issued to cancel an allegedly erroneous credit note. The court dismissed the appeal, upholding the trial judge's finding that the debit note was valid and the counterclaim was justified.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Appeal Dismissed
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Veria Engineering sued Lam Hong Leong Aluminium over wrongful deductions. The court ruled in favor of Lam Hong Leong Aluminium on their counterclaim regarding an erroneous credit note.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veria Engineering & Development Pte Ltd | Appellant | Corporation | Appeal Dismissed | Lost | Chia Ti Lik |
| Lam Hong Leong Aluminium Pte Ltd | Respondent | Corporation | Counterclaim Upheld | Won | David Ong |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Chia Ti Lik | Chia Ngee Thuang & Co |
| David Ong | David Ong & Co |
4. Facts
- The appellants were the main contractor for the respondents' building and alteration project.
- A dispute arose over the architect's certification of work.
- The appellants sued the respondents for $138,000, alleging wrongful deduction.
- The respondents filed a defence and counterclaim.
- The respondents issued a credit note (CN03/0298) and subsequently a debit note (DN 5805A).
- The dispute centered on a meeting on 26 August 1998 between Mr. Lim and Miss See.
5. Formal Citations
- Veria Engineering & Development Pte Ltd v Lam Hong Leong Aluminium Pte Ltd, DCA 34/2002/D, [2002] SGHC 277
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Meeting between Mr. Lim and Miss See regarding account settlement | |
| Judgment delivered |
7. Legal Issues
- Validity of Debit Note
- Outcome: The court found the debit note to be valid, supporting the respondent's counterclaim.
- Category: Substantive
- Breach of Contract
- Outcome: The court implicitly found that the appellant had breached the contract by disputing the debit note.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Monetary Damages
9. Cause of Actions
- Breach of Contract
10. Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Disputes
11. Industries
- Construction
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
- Credit Note
- Debit Note
- Counterclaim
- Certification of Work
- Settlement
- Good Faith
15.2 Keywords
- construction
- contract
- dispute
- credit note
- debit note
- counterclaim
16. Subjects
- Construction Dispute
- Contract Law
- Civil Litigation
17. Areas of Law
- Contract Law
- Construction Law
- Civil Procedure