Unit 11 Pty Ltd v Sharpe Partners Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 43

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Unit 11 Pty Ltd v Sharpe Partners Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 43

COURTS – practice and procedure – striking out of pleading – statement of claim based on breach of duty of care, breach of statutory duty and breach of contract by auditor struck out because causative link between breach and loss said to be speculative or conjectural – statement of claim included a claim for compensation for loss of opportunity or loss of chance – principles of causation – whether reasonable cause of action disclosed by statement of claim. Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 74, 52, 82 Fair Trading Act 1999 (Vic) ss 9, 159, 159(1) Fair Trading Act 1985 (Vic) s 11 Rules of Federal Court O 11 r 16 Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170 referred to Alexander v Cambridge Credit Corporation Ltd (1987) 9 NSWLR 310 followed Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GSF Australia Pty Ltd (2005) 215 ALR 385 cited Athey v Leonati [1996] 3 SCR 458 referred to Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 199 cited Bailey v NamolPty Ltd (1994) 125 ALR 228 referred to Bond Corporation Pty Ltd v Theiss Contractors Pty Ltd (1987) 14 FCR 215 cited Chappel v Hart (1998) 195 CLR 232 referred to Craig v East Coast Bays City Council [1986] 1 NZLR 99 referred to Environment Agency v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1999] 2 AC 22 cited Galoo Ltd (in liq) v Bright Grahame Murray (a firm)[1994] 1 WLR 1360 referred to Gavalas v Singh (2001) 3 VR 404 referred to Harris Scarfe Limited (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (in liq) v Ernst & Young (Reg) [2005] SASC 113 Henville v Walker (2001) 206 CLR 459 followed Howe v Teefy (1927) 27 SR (NSW) 301 followed I & L Securities Pty Limited v HTW Valuers (Brisbane) Pty Limited (2001-2002) 210 CLR 109 considered Janssen-Gilag Pty Limited v Pfizer Pty Limited (1992) 37 FCR 526 referred to Johnson v Perez (1988) 166 CLR 351 referred to Lenijamar Pty Ltd v AGC (Advances) Ltd (1990) 27 FCR 388 referred to Man Nutzfahrzeuge Atkiengesellschaft v Freightliner Ltd [2003] EWHC 2245 (Comm) (7 October 2003) referred to McKellar v Container Terminal Management Services Ltd (1999) 165 ALR 409 cited Munchies Management Pty Ltd v Belperio (1988) 58 FCR 274 referred to Naxakis v Western General Hospital (1999) 197 CLR 269 referred to Sasea Finance Ltd (in liq) v KPMG (a firm)[2000] 1 All ER 676 referred to Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332 referred to Sew Hoy & Sons Ltd (In Receivership and in liquidation) v Coopers & Lybrand (1996) 1 NZLR 392 referred to Southern Cross Airlines Holdings Ltd (in liq) v Arthur Andersen & Co (a firm) [1998] 84 FCR 472 referred to Takaro Properties Ltd v Rowling [1986] 1 NZLR 22 referred to Travel Compensation Fund v Tambree (2005) 222 ALR 263 referred to Cheshire & Fifoot, Law of Contract (7th Australian Ed) Greig and Davis "The Law of Contract", 1987 Cownie "Damages for loss of a chance in tort?" G. Masel "Damages in tort for loss of chance" (1995) 3(1) TLJ 43 Lord Hoffman, "Causation" (2005) 121 LQR 592