Giraffe World Australia Pty Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission [1998] FCA 1560

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE Ð application by respondent (ÒACCCÓ) for summary dismissal or striking out of pleadings Ð whether pleadings disclose a reasonable cause of action arising out of earlier proceeding by ACCC against company Ð defamation of company by ACCC Ð whether pleaded defamatory imputations capable of being conveyed by information issued by ACCC about its earlier proceeding Ð whether appropriate to determine capacity when dispute as to nature and extent of publication of matter complained of Ð whether aggravated and exemplary damages properly pleaded and particularised Ð injurious falsehood Ð whether elements of tort properly pleaded Ð abuse of process Ð whether elements of tort properly pleaded Ð misleading and deceptive conduct Ð whether acts complained of Òin trade or commerceÓ Ð misuse of market power Ð whether properly pleaded that respondent Òtook advantage ofÓ alleged market power Ð misfeasance in public office Ð whether elements of tort properly pleaded Ð intentional infliction of economic harm and interference with contractual relations Ð whether elements of torts properly pleaded Ð judicial review Ð whether decisions of ACCC to commence earlier proceeding and to issue information about it Òdecisions made under an enactmentÓ within the meaning of s 3 (1) of the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Ð whether proceeding should continue under Part IVA of Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) Ð whether causes of action pleaded on behalf of group members. WORDS AND PHRASES Ð Òunder an enactmentÓ

Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), s 33N Defamation Act 1974 (NSW), s 46. Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth), s 3 (1) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) National Mutual Property Services (Australia) Pty Ltd v Citibank Savings Ltd (1995) 132 ALR 514, referred to Australian Building Industries Pty Ltd v Stramit Corporation Ltd, unreported, FCA/FC, 1 December 1997, referred to Sims v Wran [1984] 1 NSWLR 317, considered McNicol v ACT Health Authority unreported, SC/ACT, referred to Lazarus v Deutsche Lufthansa AG (1985) 1 NSWLR 188, referred to Love v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1980] 2 NSWLR, considered Monte v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1979] 2 NSWLR, referred to Capital and Counties Bank Ltd v George Henty and Sons (1882) 7 App Cas 741, considered Mirror Newspapers Ltd v Harrison (1982) 149 CLR 293, considered Rigby v John Fairfax Group Pty Ltd unreported, CA (NSW), 1 February 1996, referred to Jones v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd, unreported, SC (NSW)/Hunt CJ at CL, 7 April 1992, considered P J Holdings Australia Pty Ltd v Hughes (1979) 25 ALR 538, considered Watt v General Television Corp Pty Ltd [1998] 3 VR 501, referred to Swimsure (Laboratories) Pty Ltd v McDonald [1979] 2 NSWLR 796, considered White Industries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Flower & Hart (a firm) (1998) 156 ALR 169, considered Hanrahan v Ainsworth (1990) 22 NSWLR 73, referred to Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594, considered Queensland Wire Industries Pty Ltd v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1989) 167 CLR 177, referred to Sanders v Snell (1998) 157 ALR 491, considered Northern Territory v Mengel (1995) 185 CLR 307, considered Allen v Flood [1898] AC 1, referred to McKernan v Fraser (1931) 46 CLR 343, referred to General Newspapers Pty Ltd v Telstra Corp (1993) 45 FCR 164, applied Strictly Stainless Pty Ltd v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation, unreported, FCA/Davies J, 7 November 1993, referred to Ruddy v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation, unreported, FCA/Kiefel J, 2 April 1998, referred to Salerno v National Crime Authority (1997) 144 ALR 709, referred to GIRAFFE WORLD AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED (ACN 078 012 521) V AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION