CG Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd v ACCC [2001] FCA 757

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

CG Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd v ACCC [2001] FCA 757 TRADE PRACTICES – unconscionability – s 51AA of Trade Practices Act 1974 – landlord and tenant – group of tenants in shopping centre – tenants had brought claims against landlords in Commercial Tribunal – tenants sought renewal of leases – goodwill of businesses dependant largely on location – landlords offered renewal subject to release from litigation – whether circumstances of each tenant constituted "special disability" – where no dispute as to relevant legal test EQUITY – unconscionability – scope of equitable doctrine – nature of disadvantage or inequality necessary to establish unconscionable conduct – nature of conduct WORDS & PHRASES – "special disability" Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 51AA Federal Court of Australia Act 1975 (Cth) s 21 Commercial Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreements Act 1995 (WA) ss 3, 6, 9 ACCC v Samton Holdings Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 1725 approved Blomley v Ryan (1957) 99 CLR 362 applied Commercial Bank of Australia v Amadio (1982) 151 CLR 447 applied Louth v Diprose (1992) 175 CLR 621 applied CG BERBATIS HOLDINGS PTY LTD & ORS v AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION W 211 OF 2000 HILL, TAMBERLIN & EMMETT JJ PERTH 27 JUNE 2001

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

WESTERN AUSTRALIA DISTRICT REGISTRY W211 OF 2000

ON APPEAL FROM A SINGLE JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

BETWEEN: CG BERBATIS HOLDINGS PTY LTD (ACN 008 799 040)

FIRST APPELLANT

GPA PTY LTD (ACN 008 779 664)

SECOND APPELLANT

P&G INVESTMENTS PTY LTD (ACN 009 224 757)

THIRD APPELLANT

GEORGE PALASSIS ATZEMIS

FOURTH APPELLANT

CONSTANTINE GEORGE BERBATIS

FIFTH APPELLANT

ANNA MARIA ANTONIA HEIJNE

SIXTH APPELLANT