Catchwords:

CONTRACTS — remedies — damages — mitigation of loss — whether conduct was unreasonable in the circumstances such that some or all of the claimed loss should be disregarded — legal and evidentiary onus on the party asserting a failure to mitigate — no “positive obligation” to provide builder an opportunity to rectify damage — invocation of a “shifting” or “tactical onus” misconceived and should be avoided

CIVIL PROCEDURE — alternative dispute resolution — court referral to referee — claimed denial of procedural fairness — no procedural unfairness established