Gibson Motorsport Merchandise Pty Ltd v Forbes [2006] FCAFC 44

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Gibson Motorsport Merchandise Pty Ltd v Forbes [2006] FCAFC 44 FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIPS – Motor sport business – Negotiations for joint venture – Trial judge finds no joint venture agreement concluded – No appeal therefrom – Contention on appeal that parties identified a business opportunity that could be exploited only if they acted collaboratively – Whether parties owed fiduciary duties to each other – Content of fiduciary duties – If duties existed, whether breached

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Appeal – Competency – Breach of contract – Issues of liability and quantum split – Notwithstanding split, reasons for judgment of judge hearing liability issue contain observations about period in respect of which damages recoverable – No order made as to that issue – Whether observations appealable – Whether a judgment Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 24(1)(a) United Dominions Corporation Ltd v Brian Pty Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 1 applied Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 cited Blackpool and Fylde Aero Club v Blackpool Borough Council [1990] 1 WLR 1195 cited Brewer St Investments Ltd v Barclays Woollen Co Ltd [1954] 1 QB 428 cited Sabemo Pty Ltd v North Sydney Municipal Council [1977] 2 NSWLR 880 cited Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 cited Fraser Edmiston Pty Ltd v AGT (Qld) Pty Ltd [1988] 2 Qd R 1 cited Shanshal v Al-Kishtaini unreported QBD, 9 June 1999 cited Arklow Investments Ltd v Maclean [2000] 1 WLR 594 cited Chirnside v Fay [2004] 3 NZLR 637 cited Furs Ltd v Tomkies (1936) 54 CLR 583 cited Day v Mead [1987] 2 NZLR 443 cited Hodgkinson v Simms (1994) 117 DLR 4th 161 cited Bristol and West Building Society v Mothew [1998] Ch 1 cited Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71 cited Pilmer v Duke Group Ltd (in liq) (2001) 207 CLR 165 cited Chan v Zacharia (1984) 154 CLR 178 cited News Limited v Australian Rugby Football League Ltd (1996) 64 FCR 410 cited Woodson (Sales) Pty Ltd v Woodson (Australia) Ltd (1996) 7 BPR 14,685 cited US Airways Group Inc v British Airways Plc 989 F Supp 482 cited Butt v M'Donald (1896) 7 QLJ 68 cited Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 cited Driclad Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1968) 121 CLR 45 applied Hi‑Fert Pty Ltd v Kiukiang Maritime Carriers Inc (1998) 155 ALR 94 cited Landsal Pty Ltd v REI Building Society (1993) 113 ALR 643 considered GIBSON MOTORSPORT MERCHANDISE PTY LTD, ROBERT NOEL WATSON, FREDERICK CHARLES GIBSON, NOEL WATSON (AUST.) PTY LTD, FC GIBSON PTY LIMITED, THE WATSON GROUP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD and SYNARBY PTY LTD v ROBERT JAMES FORBES, RACECAR PREPARATION & MANAGEMENT PTY LTD and BOB FORBES CORPORATION PTY LTD VID 931 OF 2005 FINN, SUNDBERG and EMMETT JJ 31 MARCH 2006 MELBOURNE