Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Michigan Group Pty Ltd (ACN 065 378 029) [2002] FCA 1439

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Michigan Group Pty Ltd (ACN 065 378 029) [2002] FCA 1439 TRADE PRACTICES – misleading or deceptive conduct – whether representation misleading or deceptive – onus of proof – onus depends on whether representor is natural or corporate person – corporate person must demonstrate reasonable grounds for representation – whether natural person knowingly concerned – onus and standard of proof – natural person bears no onus of proof as to representations made – relief sought – whether scope of relief sought is contemplated by the Act Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 51, 51A, 52, 58, 59, 75B, 80, 84, 87, 163A Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 21 Trade Practices Commission v Friendship Aloe Vera Pty Ltd (1988) ATPR 40-892 referred to ACCC v The Shell Company of Australia Ltd (1997) 72 FCR 386 referred to ACCC v Giraffe World Australia Pty Ltd (1998) 84 FCR 512 referred to AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v MICHIGAN GROUP PTY LTD (ACN 065 378 029), RODNEY MONTAGUE LASKI, CHARLES CAMERON, IMOBILIARE PTY LTD (ACN 063 501 208), PETER SEMOS, GEORGE SEMOS, DARYL FRANCIS DOHERTY, YEPPOON PTY LTD (ACN 081 944 112), LINDA CAROL MORETTO AND PROSPERO FRANZESE Q 105 OF 2000 DOWSETT J 26 NOVEMBER 2002 BRISBANE

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY Q 105 OF 2000

BETWEEN: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

APPLICANT

AND: MICHIGAN GROUP PTY LTD (ACN 065 378 029)

FIRST RESPONDENT

RODNEY MONTAGUE LASKI

SECOND RESPONDENT

CHARLES CAMERON

THIRD RESPONDENT

IMOBILIARE PTY LTD (ACN 063 501 208)

FOURTH RESPONDENT

PETER SEMOS