WORRELL v FOODLINK LTD [1998] FCA 1814

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – summary dismissal – striking out statement of claim –whether cause of action abandoned – res judicata – time limitation – whether action under Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) time barred – whether appropriate to determine at interlocutory hearing – whether cause of action in deceit ought to be struck out. BANKRUPTCY - effect of trustee's election to discontinue proceedings under s60(2) of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) or abandonment of proceedings under s60(3) - whether abandonment of underlying cause of action or statutory right - whether trustee precluded from continuing proceedings based on same underlying cause of action as in abandoned proceedings. Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) s60 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 82

Theissbacher v MacGregor Garrick & Co (a firm) [1993] 2 Qd R 223 - not followed Bennett v Gamgee (1876) 2 Ex C 11 - applied Re Summerhayes; ex parte The Official Assignee (1890) 1 BC (NSW) 24 - applied Re Kwok; Ex parte Rummell (1981) 61 FLR 336 - applied Re Gargan, ex parte Gargan v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (unreported, 18 August 1995) - applied Re Cirillo; Ex parte Official Trustee (1996) 65 FCR 576 - applied Citicorp Australia Ltd v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (1996) 71 FCR 550 (FC) - considered Hoystead v Commissioner of Taxation [1926] AC 155 - considered Jackson v Goldsmith (1950) 81 CLR 446 - considered Ronex Properties Ltd v John Laing Constructions Ltd [1983] QB 398 (CA) - considered Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 - considered Wardley v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 - applied Dey v Victorian Railway Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 - applied General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 - applied

ivor worrell as trustee of the bankrupt estates of geoffrey ross fletcher and janice beryl fletcher V foodlink ltd, bon-irs pty ltd, gc bonney & co (developments) pty ltd, geoffrey clive bonney, john terence berry and robert victor harris