Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia Ltd [1999] FCA 477

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia Ltd [1999] FCA 477 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Application to strike out statement of claim– whether silence can constitute misleading or deceptive conduct – whether duty of care owed in a claim for economic loss has been properly pleaded Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Mehta (1991) 23 NSWLR 571 - applied Demagogue Pty Ltd v Ramensky and Another (1992) 39 FCR 31 - applied Costa Vraca Pty Ltd v Berrigan Weed and Pest Control Pty Ltd (1998) 155 ALR 714 – applied John Holland Construction and Engineering Pty Ltd v Kvaerner RJ Brown Pty Ltd (1996) BCL 262 - considered Minchillo v Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited (1994) 2 VR 594 - considered Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd v Peat Marwick Hungerfords (1997) 188 CLR 241 - cited Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 52

JOHNSON TILES PTY LTD v ESSO AUSTRALIA LTD VG 519 OF 1998 AND VG 524 OF 1998 MERKEL J MELBOURNE 21 APRIL 1999

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY VG 519 OF 1998 AND 524 OF 1998

BETWEEN: JOHNSON TILES PTY LTD

(ACN 004 576 103)

First Applicant

DOUGLAS CHALMERS

Second Applicant

GREGORY ALAN DEAN

Third Applicant

AND: ESSO AUSTRALIA LTD

(ACN 000 018 566)

First Respondent

ESSO AUSTRALIA RESOURCES LTD

(ARBN 000 444 860)

Second Respondent JUDGE: MERKEL J

DATE OF ORDER: 21 APRIL 1999

WHERE MADE: MELBOURNE

THE COURT ORDERS THAT: 1. Paragraphs 13, 15, 19(d), 19(e) and 25 of the Second Further Amended Statement of Claim be struck out. 2. The applicants have leave to file and serve a further statement of claim on or before 28 April 1999. 3. The applicants pay the respondents' taxed costs of and incidental to their Motion dated 8 April 1999.