Davaria Pty Limited v 7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 183

Federal Court of Australia

Davaria Pty Limited v 7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 183 File number: VID 180 of 2018

Judgment of: MIDDLETON, MOSHINSKY AND LEE JJ

Date of judgment: 3 November 2020

Catchwords: REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDINGS – question reserved under s 25(6) of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) – whether Court has power pursuant to ss 33V, 33Z or 33ZF of Act or otherwise to make a "common fund order" upon the conclusion of the proceeding – where declaration sought by first respondent that Court has no such power – whether making of "common fund order" on settlement or judgment precluded by principled application of BMW Australia Ltd v Brewster [2019] HCA 45; (2019) 94 ALJR 51 – consideration of types of orders – where no such order has yet been sought in the proceeding – question whether "common fund order" can be made at judgment hypothetical and ought not be answered – question whether "common fund order" can be made at settlement premature and ought not be answered in absence of application – application for declaratory relief dismissed

Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 33 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 5, 23, 25, Pt IVA, ss 33L, 33M, 33N, 33Q, 33R, 33V, 33X, 33Z, 33ZA, 33ZG, 33ZF, 33ZJ, 53A Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 78B Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 183 Class Actions Practice Note (GPN-CA)

Cases cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Blairgowrie Trading Ltd v Allco Finance Group Ltd (in liq) [2015] FCA 811; (2015) 325 ALR 539 Blairgowrie Trading Ltd v Allco Finance Group Ltd (recs and mgrs apptd) (in liq) (No 3) [2017] FCA 330; (2017) 343 ALR 476 BMW Australia Ltd v Brewster [2019] HCA 45; (2019) 374 ALR 627; (2019) 94 ALJR 51 Botsman v Bolitho (No 1) [2018] VSCA 278; (2018) 57 VR 68 Brewster v BMW Australia Ltd [2020] NSWCA 272 Caason Investments Pty Limited v Cao (No 2) [2018] FCA 527 Cantor v Audi Australia Pty Ltd (No 5) [2020] FCA 637 Clime Capital Limited v UGL Pty Limited [2020] FCA 66 Davaria Pty Limited v 7-Eleven Stores Pty Limited (No 7) [2020] FCA 1487 Dillon v RBS Group (Australia) Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 896; (2017) FCR 150 Dorajay Pty Ltd v Aristocrat Leisure Ltd [2009] FCA 19 Dyczynski v Gibson [2020] FCAFC 120; (2020) 381 ALR 1 Edwards v Santos [2011] HCA 8; (2011) 242 CLR 421 Evans v Davantage Group Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 473 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 22; (2007) 230 CLR 89 Fisher (trustee for the Tramik Super Fund Trust) v Vocus Group Limited (No 2) [2020] FCA 579 Hodges v Sandhurst Trustees Limited [2018] FCA 1346 Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2003] VSC 212 Lenthall v Westpac Banking Corporation (No 2) [2020] FCA 423; (2020) 144 ACSR 573 Liverpool City Council v McGraw-Hill Financial, Inc (now known as S&P Global Inc) [2018] FCA 1289 McKay Super Solutions Pty Ltd (Trustee) v Bellamy's Australia Ltd (No 3) [2020] FCA 461 Money Max Int Pty Ltd v QBE Insurance Group Ltd [2016] FCAFC 148; (2016) 245 FCR 191 National Australia Bank Ltd v Nautilus Insurance Pte Ltd (No 2) [2019] FCA 1543; (2019) 377 ALR 627 Re McBain; Ex parte Australian Catholic Bishops Conference [2002] HCA 16; (2002) 2019 CLR 372 Uren v RMBL Investments Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 647 Webster (Trustee) v Murray Goulburn Co-Operative Co. Limited (No 4) [2020] FCA 1053 Westpac Banking Corporation v Lenthall [2019] FCAFC 34; (2019) 265 FCR 21 Spigelman, J J, "Mediation and the Court" (2001) 39(2) LSJ 63