Courtney v Medtel Pty Limited [2003] FCA 36

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Courtney v Medtel Pty Limited [2003] FCA 36 TRADE PRACTICES – consumer protection – representative proceedings – batch of pacemakers subject to hazard alert because of risk of premature failure due to battery depletion – only a small proportion of batch actually fail prematurely – all pacemakers subject to a "background" risk of premature failure – whether superadded risk of failure due to use of a particular solder in the manufacturing process constitutes pacemakers unfit for purpose or not of merchantable quality – ss 74B and 74D of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth). COMPENSATION – whether minor stress and anxiety compensable under ss 74B and 74D of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) – assessment of compensation in respect of pain and suffering following explantation of pacemaker – whether compensation available under ss 74B and 74D in respect of past gratuitous services provided to patient following explantation of pacemaker.

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 4B, 68, 71, 74A, 74B, 74D, 74K, 82 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 33J, 51A Trade Practices Amendment Act 1978 (Cth) Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth) s 30(1), (2)(b) Federal Court Rules O 29 r 2 Law Reform (Manufacturers Warranties) Ordinance 1975 (ACT) Supreme Court Rules (NSW), Schedule J Manufacturers Warranties Act 1974 (SA) Sale of Goods Act 1893 (UK) Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973 (UK) Sale of Goods Act 1979 (UK) Supply of Goods Act 1994 (UK) Uniform Law on the International Sale of Goods art 33(1)(d) United States Uniform Commercial Code s 2-314(2)(c) Bass v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 334 cited. Director of Fisheries (Northern Territory) v Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust (2001) 109 FCR cited. Australian Knitting Mills Ltd v Grant (1933) 50 CLR 387 discussed. Rasell v Cavalier Marketing (Australia) Pty Ltd [1991] 2 Qd R 323 followed. Rogers v Parish (Scarborough) Ltd [1987] QB 933 cited. Bristol Tramways & Carriage Co Ltd v Fiat Motors Ltd [1910] 2 KB 831 cited. Henry Kendall & Sons v William Lillico & Sons Ltd [1969] 2 AC 31 cited. Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2000) 102 FCR 307 followed. Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 cited. George Wills and Co Ltd v Davids Pty Ltd (1957) 98 CLR 77 distinguished. O'Brien v Medtronic, Inc 149 Wis 2d 615; 439 NW 2d 151 (1989) cited. Khan v Shiley, Inc 217 Cal. App. 3d 848; 266 Cal Rptr 106 (1990) cited. Larsen v Pacesetter Systems Inc 74 Haw 1, 837 P 2d 1273 (1992) cited. Michael v Shiley, Inc, 46 F 3d 1316 (1995) cited. Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 494 followed. Tame v New South Wales(2002) 191 ALR 449 discussed. Zoneff v Elcom Credit Union Ltd (1990) 94 ALR 445 cited. Zoneff v Elcom Credit Union Ltd (1990) ATPR 41-058 cited. Farley v Skinner [2002] 2 AC 732 cited. Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 followed. Van Gervan v Fenton(1992) 175 CLR 327 followed. Grincelis v House (2000) 173 ALR 564 followed. MBP (SA) Pty Ltd v Gogic(1991) 171 CLR 657 followed. White Industries (Qld) v Flower & Hart (No 2)[2000] FCA 1132 followed. Trade Practices Act Review Committee, Report to Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs (August 1976), par 9.127 Cth Parl Deb, HR, 13 April 1978, at 1507 (Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs). G M Gregg and T D Tzovaras, "The Liability of Manufacturer and Importers under the Trade Practices Amendment Act 1978" (1979) 10 Fed LR 398 Benjamin's Sale of Goods (6th ed 2002), par 11-026) The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission, Exemption Clauses in Contracts – First Report: Amendments to the Sale of Goods Act 1893 (Law Com No 24; Scot Law Com No 12; 1969), par 42 KEVIN GLYNN COURTNEY in a representative capacity on behalf of the persons referred to in par 1 of the Eighth Amended Statement of Claim v MEDTEL PTY LIMITED & ANOR N 661 of 2000 SACKVILLE J SYDNEY 5 FEBRUARY 2003