Garner v Central Innovation Pty Limited [2022] FCAFC 64

Federal Court of Australia

Garner v Central Innovation Pty Limited [2022] FCAFC 64 Appeal from: Central Innovation Pty Ltd v Garner (No 4) [2020] FCA 1796

File number: NSD 69 of 2021

Judgment of: CHARLESWORTH, STEWART AND HALLEY JJ

Date of judgment: 21 April 2022

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – appeal from decision of primary judge that judgment and verdict be entered in favour of respondents in respect of 36 customers lost due to actions of appellant – whether primary judge wrongly departed from the case pleaded by the appellant – whether primary judge erred in finding that respondents established loss or damage – whether primary judge made erroneous findings as to the taking or removal of confidential information by the appellant – whether primary judge made erroneous findings as to the credibility of the evidence given by the appellant – whether primary judge made erroneous findings in assessing the alleged loss or damage – reflective loss principles – principles relevant to breach of fiduciary duties – where no material non-compliance with the rule in Browne v Dunn – appeal dismissed

Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 500 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 140

Cases cited: Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1983] 1 NSWLR 1 Banque Commerciale SA, en liquidation v Akhil Holdings Limited (1990) 169 CLR 279 Betfair Pty Ltd v Racing New South Wales (2010) 189 FCR 356 Boardman v Phipps [1967] 2 AC 46 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Carter v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2020) 279 FCR 83 Central Coast Council v Norcross Pictorial Calendars Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 75; 391 ALR 157 Central Innovation Pty Ltd v Garner (No 4) [2020] FCA 1796 Commonwealth Securities Ltd v South Pacific Securities Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 199 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 Flightdeck Geelong Pty Ltd v All Options Pty Ltd (2020) 280 FCR 479 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 Francuziak v Minister for Justice (2015) 238 FCR 332 George Fischer (Great Britain) Ltd v Multi Construction Ltd [1995] BCC 310; 1 BCLC 260 Gerber Garment Technology Inc v Lectra Systems Ltd [1997] RPC 443 Gould v Mount Oxide Mines Ltd (in liq) (1916) 22 CLR 490 Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 Johnson v Gore Wood & Co (a firm) [2002] 2 AC 1 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Lee v Lee (2019) 266 CLR 129 Masterton Homes Pty Ltd v Palm Assets Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 234; 261 ALR 382 NRM Corporation Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2016] FCAFC 98 Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v Newman Industries Ltd (No 2) [1982] Ch 204 Stefanovski v Digital Central Australia (Assets) Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 31; 368 ALR 607 Sullivan v Trilogy Funds Management Ltd (2017) 255 FCR 503 Vale v Sutherland (2009) 237 CLR 638 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531 Willoughby v Clayton Utz [2005] WASC 47; 193 FLR 373