Pitcher Partners Consulting Pty Ltd v Neville's Bus Service Pty Ltd [2019] FCAFC 119

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Pitcher Partners Consulting Pty Ltd v Neville's Bus Service Pty Ltd [2019] FCAFC 119 Appeal from: Neville's Bus Service Pty Ltd v Pitcher Partners Consulting Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 2098

File number: VID 66 of 2019

Judges: ALLSOP CJ, YATES AND O'BRYAN JJ

Date of judgment: 23 July 2019

Catchwords: TORTS – deceit – where appellants' advice on a tender price contained an amortisation error – tender won – appellants dishonestly concealed error and provided false assurance that contract price included full subvention allowed for by Transport for NSW – onus on respondent to prove damages qualified when deliberate wrong of applicants caused difficulties of proof – no Jones v Dunkel inference drawn – no error in finding on the balance of probabilities that respondent would have successfully renegotiated the contract had the error been known – direct loss calculated as prejudice or disadvantage suffered as a consequence of altering position under fraudulent inducement - appropriate to rely on presumption against wrongdoer – liar held to restore the innocent party to position consistent with lie being true - appeal dismissed with costs CONSUMER LAW – dishonest conduct found to be seriously misleading or deceptive conduct

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) sch 2, ss 18, 236, 237 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 87

Cases cited: Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd v Sydney Catchment Authority (No 3) [2006] NSWCA 282; 67 NSWLR 341 Armory v Delamirie (1722) 1 Stra 505; 93 ER 664 Badenach v Calvert [2016] HCA 18; 257 CLR 440 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63 at 65; 98 ER 969 Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1833; 117 FCR 424 Clef Aquitaine SARL v Laporte Materials (Barrow) Ltd [2001] QB 488 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 54; 174 CLR 64 Doyle v Olby (Ironmongers) Ltd [1969] 2 QB 158; 2 All ER 119 Environmental Agency v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1999] 2 AC 22 Forrest v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2012] HCA 39; 246 CLR 486 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Gould v Vaggelas [1985] HCA 75; 157 CLR 215 Henville v Walker [2001] HCA 52; 206 CLR 459 Holloway v McFeeters [1956] HCA 25; 94 CLR 470 Houghton v Immer (No 155) Pty Ltd [1997] NSWSC 608; 44 NSWLR 46 HTW Valuers (Central Qld) Pty Ltd v Astonland Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 54; 217 CLR 640 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298 Livingstone v Rawyards Coal Co (1880) 5 App Cas 25 LJP Investments Pty Ltd v Howard Chia Investments Pty Ltd (No 2) (1989) 24 NSWLR 499 Mackay v Dick (1881) 6 App Cas 251 Macquarie International Health Clinic Pty Ltd v Sydney South West Area Health Service [2010] NSWCA 268 Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20; 169 CLR 638 Manly Council v Byrnes [2004] NSWCA 123 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd [1998] HCA 69; 196 CLR 494 McCartney v Orica Investments Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 337 McConnel v Wright [1903] 1 Ch 546 Murphy v Overton Investments Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 3; 216 CLR 388 Palmer Bruyn and Parker Pty Ltd v Parsons [2001] 14 HCA 69; 208 CLR 388 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Potts v Miller [1940] HCA 43; 64 CLR 282 Precision Plastering Pty Ltd v Demir [1975] HCA 27; 132 CLR 362 Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd [1979] HCA 51; 144 CLR 596 Smith New Court Securities Ltd v Citibank NA [1996] UKHL 3; [1997] AC 254 State Rail Authority (NSW) v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (in liq) [1999] HCA 3; 160 ALR 588 Toteff v Antonas [1952] HCA 16; 87 CLR 647 Tyco Australia Pty Ltd v Optus Networks Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 333 Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia [1992] HCA 55; 175 CLR 514 Westpac Banking Corporation v Jamieson [2015] QCA 50; [2016] 1 Qd R 495