Jones, Griffith Morgan & Ors v Mortgage Acceptance Nominees Ltd & Ors [1996] FCA 102

CATCHWORDS CONTRIBUTION - respondent held liable to applicants for breach of fiduciary duty - whether the respondent may be found liable as a tort-feasor in contribution proceedings - s.5(1)(c) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) -meaning of "liable" in the Act - beneficial legislation - principles of contribution at common law and equity - whether common or coordinate obligation. OTHER ISSUES - no point of principle. Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) - s.5(1) Albion Insurance Co Ltd v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (1969) 121 CLR 342 Austotel Management Pty Ltd v Jamieson (1996) ATPR ¶41-454 AWA Ltd v Daniels (1992) 7 ACSR 759 Baltic Shipping Company v Dillon (1993) 176 CLR 344 Brown v Sevrup Fisheries Pty Ltd (1970) Tas SR 1 Dering v Winchelsea (1787) 2 B & P 270 Dorrough v Bank of Melbourne Ltd (1995) ATPR ¶41-454 Employers' Corporate Investments Pty Ltd v Cameron (1977) 3 ACLR 120 Marsack v Webber (1860) 6 H & N 1 Merryweather v Nixon 8TR 186 R.W. Miller & Co Pty Ltd v Krupp (Australia) Pty Ltd (unreported, 9 June 1992) Rap Industries Pty Ltd v Royal Insurance Australia Ltd (1988) 5 ANZ Ins. Cas., 60-876 Re La Rosa; Ex parte Norgard v Rodpat Nominees Pty Ltd (1991) 31 FCR 83 Smith v Cock (1911) AC 317 TAL Structural Engineers Pty Ltd v Vaughan Constructions Pty Ltd [1989] VR 545 Trade Practices Commission v Manfal Pty Ltd (No 3) 1991) 33 FCR 382 Van Win Pty Ltd v Eleventh Mirontron Pty Ltd [1986] VR 484 Warman International Ltd v Dwyer (1995) 182 CLR 544 GRIFFITH MORGAN JONES & ORS v MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE NOMINEES LIMITED & ORS No G 711 of 1991 Davies J. Sydney 23 February 1996

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ) ) NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY ) No G 711 of 1991 ) GENERAL DIVISION ) BETWEEN: GRIFFITH MORGAN JONES FREDERICK LANCE MESH EARLE WILFRED BAILEY THOMAS ALFRED INGLIS BRAYE JEFFREY WALL BRIAN DAVID THORNTON KEVIN IAN PERKINS PAUL EDWARD NEILSON ANTHONY MARMADUKE CARMICHAEL GLEN WILLIAM GREEDY PAUL STENBERG GORDON FRASER JOHN HOPE GIBSON JAMES AIRD (JNR) DONALD LEVICK NOLA LEVICK JEFFREY CECIL FOSTER MARK THOMAS SEALES Applicants AND: MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE NOMINEES LIMITED RODERICK STUART McDONALD GREGORY ALFRED FARROW JARPAN MANAGEMENT SERVICES PTY LTD PETER DONE BRIAN KING JAMES BESTER AUSTRALIAN BREEDERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD C E HEATH CASUALTY & GENERAL INSURANCE LIMITED Respondents Coram: Davies J. Date: 23 February 1996 Place: Sydney REASONS FOR JUDGMENT On 10 November 1995, I handed down my findings of fact in this matter and my reasons therefor. Subsequently, on 18 December 1995, I heard argument on certain outstanding issues and gave judgment on the cross-claim by Mortgage