Dresna Pty Ltd v Misu Nominees Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 169

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Dresna Pty Ltd v Misu Nominees Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 169 PROCEDURE – appeal – application for leave to further amend statement of claim – whether leave to appeal should be granted – whether proposed amendments raised arguable causes of action and substantial injustice would be caused to appellant if not able to pursue them TORTS – tort of conspiracy – conspiracy to injure by unlawful means – requirement that conspirators have an intention to injure the applicant – whether requirement of intention to injure is satisfied where there is an intention to injure a member of an indeterminate class of which the injured applicant is a member – whether breach of undertaking given under s 87B of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) can constitute 'unlawful means'– what constitutes the use of 'unlawful means' – whether breach of undertaking given under s 87B of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) is considered to be wrongful – whether making of 'false suggestions' to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission can constitute 'unlawful means' TRADE AND COMMERCE – meaning of 'in trade or commerce' for the purposes of s52 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) – whether conduct was an aspect or element of activities or transactions which of their nature bear a trading or commercial character

Statutes Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) s 137.1 Patents Act 1952 (Cth) s 100(1)(k) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 87B, 52, 87B(4), 87B(1), 53, 87B(3)

Cases Al Raschid v News Syndicate Co, Inc 191 NE 713 (1934) Cited Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Signature Security Group Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 3 Cons Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd v ACCC (1997) 73 FCR 75 Refd Beach Petroleum NL v Johnson (1993) 43 FCR 1 Refd Brown v Riverstone Meat Co Pty Ltd (1985) 60 ALR 595 Cited Coal Miners Industrial Union of Workers of Western Australia, Collie v True (1959) 33 ALJR 224 Refd Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594 Appl Council for the City of the Gold Coast v Pioneer Concrete (Qld) Pty Ltd (1998) 157 ALR 135 Cited Crofter Hand Woven Harris Tweed Company, Limited v Veitch [1942] AC 435 Cited Decor Corporation Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1991) 33 FCR 397 Foll Gale v Ryan 31 NYS 2d (1941) Cited Goodchild Fuel Distributors Pty Ltd v Holman (1992) 59 SASR 454 Cited Grupo Torras SA v Sheikh Fahad Mohammed Al-Sabah [1999] All ER (D) 698 Cons Hearn v O'Rourke [2003] FCAFC 78 Cons Kelite Products Inc v Binzel 224 F (2d) 131 (1955) Cited Lonrho Ltd v Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (No 2) [1982] AC 173 Cons Lonrho Plc v Fayed (1990) 2 QB 479Cons Lonrho Plc v Fayed [1992] 1 AC 448 Cons McWilliam v Penthouse Publications Ltd [2001] NSWCA 237 Refd Merman Pty Ltd v Cockburn Cement Ltd (1988) 84 ALR 521 Cited Morrison v National Broadcasting Company, Inc 266 NYS 2d 406 (1965) Cited National Phonograph Company, Limited v Edison-Bell Consolidated Phonograph Company, Limited [1908] 1 Ch 335 Cited Penn-Ohio State Corporation v Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company 272 NYS 2d 266 (1966) Cited Prestige Group (Australia) Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1990) 26 FCR 197 Cons Torquay Hotel Co Ltd v Cousins (1969) 2 Ch 106 Cited Vickery v Taylor (1910) 11 SR (NSW) 119 Refd Williams v Hursey (1959) 103 CLR 30 Refd