Foodco Group Pty Ltd & Anor v Northgan Pty Ltd & Anor [1998] FCA 550

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ESTOPPEL - Anshun estoppel - whether applicants estopped from bringing action -applicants were respondents in prior proceeding - applicants did not file cross claim against a third party in prior proceeding - applicants subsequently filed fresh action against third party - - whether a non-party in a prior proceeding may rely on Anshun estoppel in subsequent proceeding. TRADE PRACTICES - limitation of actions - running of time - separate and distinct act of reliance. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - strike out application - relevant test Federal Court Act 1976 (Cth), s 22 Trade Practices Act 1975 (Cth), s 82(2) Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vict), s 5 Fair Trading Act 1985 (Vict), s 37(2) Port of Melbourne v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589, applied Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) CLR 78, applied General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125, applied Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598, applied Henderson v Henderson (1843) 3 Hare 100 at 115 ; 67 ER 313, followed Rahme v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Court of Appeal (NSW), 20 December 1991, unreported), followed Bryant v Commonwealth Bank (1995) 57 FCR 287, applied C. (A Minor) v Hackney LBC, [1996] 1 WLR 789, followed Westpoint Corporation Pty Ltd v Coles Supermarket Australia Pty Ltd (1996) FCR 584, referred to Rogers v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 251, discussed Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514, applied

FOODCO GROUP PTY LTD (ACN 007 145 057) and ROBERT KENNETH NELSON v NORTHGAN PTY LTD (ACN 004 604 406) and STUART JOHN MACRAE

marshall J

melbourne

21 May 1998

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY VG 332 OF 1997

BETWEEN: FOODCO GROUP PTY LTD (ACN 007 145 057)

First Applicant

ROBERT KENNETH NELSON