Evans Deakin Pty Ltd v Sebel Furniture Ltd [2003] FCA 171

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Evans Deakin Pty Ltd v Sebel Furniture Ltd [2003] FCA 171 TRADE PRACTICES – whether supplier of seating tendering to a prospective head contractor to an engineering contract promised the elements of its tender as to price beyond nominated tender validity date CONTRACT – whether supplier and head contractor bound in contract – discussion of contract formation in tendering ESTOPPEL – whether supplier estopped from denying obligation to supply according to tender EVIDENCE – expert evidence – importance of identifying the relevant opinion of the expert and the material upon which the opinion is based.

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 82 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 78, 79, 135 Taylor v Johnson (1983) 151 CLR 422 referred to Air Great Lakes Pty Ltd v K S Easter (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1985) 2 NSWLR 309 referred to Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd (2001) 117 FCR 424 referred to Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVth Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 referred to and discussed Ritz Hotel Ltd v Charles of the Ritz Ltd (1988) 15 NSWLR 158 applied PD v Australian Red Cross (New South Wales Division) (1993) 30 NSWLR 376 applied British Steel Corporation v Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Co Ltd [1984] 1 All ER 504 referred to Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 referred to Integrated Computer Services Pty Ltd v Digital Equipment Corp (Aust) Pty Ltd (1988) 5 BPR 11,110 referred to Empirnall Holdings Pty Ltd v Machon Paull Partners Pty Ltd (1988) 14 NSWLR 523 referred to Vroon BV v Foster's Brewing Group Ltd [1994] 2 VR 32 referred to First Energy (UK) Ltd v Hungarian International Bank Ltd [1993] 2 Lloyd's Rep 194 referred to Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337 referred to Poseidon Ltd v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1991) 105 ALR 25 referred to Eccles v Bryant [1948] 1 Ch 93 referred to The Queen v Ron Engineering & Construction (Eastern) Ltd [1981] 1 SCR 111 referred and discussed Fred Welsh Ltd v BGM Construction Ltd (1996) 10 WWR 400 referred to and discussed Naylor Group Incorporated v Ellis-Don Construction Ltd (1999) 43 OR (3d) 325 referred to and discussed Naylor Group Inc v Ellis-Don Construction [2001] 2 SCR 943 referred to and discussed Pratt Contractors Ltd v Palmerston North City Council [1995] 1 NZLR 469 referred to Blackpool & Fylde Aero Club Ltd v Blackpool Borough Council [1990] 1 WLR 1195 (CA) referred to City University of Hong Kong v Blue Cross (Asia Pacific) Insurance Ltd [2001] 1 HKC 463 referred to Hughes Aircraft Systems International v Airservices Australia (1997) 76 FCR 151 referred to Burnham v Carroll Musgrove Theatres Ltd & Victoria Arcade Ltd (1928) 41 CLR 540 applied Mannai Investment Co Ltd v Eagle Star Life Assurance Co Ltd [1997] AC 749 applied Coal Cliff Collieries Pty Ltd & Another v Sijehama Pty Ltd and Another (1991) 24 NSWLR 1 referred to Burger King Corporation v Hungry Jack's Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 187 referred to Overlook Management BV v Foxtel Management Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 17 referred to Alcatel Australia Ltd v Scarcella (1998) 44 NSWLR 349 referred to South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club v News Ltd (2001) 177 ALR 611 referred to GEC Marconi Systems Pty Ltd v BHP Information Technology Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 50 referred to Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 596 referred to Mackay v Dick (1881) 6 App Cas 251 referred to Butt v McDonald (1896) 7 QLJ 68 referred to Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 applied Hawkins v Clayton (1988) 164 CLR 539 referred to Placer Development Ltd v Commonwealth (1969) 121 CLR 353 referred to Meehan v Jones (1982) 149 CLR 571 referred to Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd v Pace (1998) 15 NSWLR 130 referred to SVI Systems Pty Limited v Best & Less Pty Limited [2001] FCA 279 referred to Musumeci v Winadell Pty Ltd (1994) 34 NSWLR 723 referred to and discussed Williams v Roffey Brothers and Nicholls Contractors Ltd [1991] 1 QB1 referred to and discussed James Miller & Partners Ltd v Whitworth Street Estates (Manchester) Ltd [1970] AC 583 applied L Schuler A G v Wickman Machine Tool Sales Ltd [1974] AC 235 applied Hide & Skin Trading Pty Ltd v Oceanic Meat Traders Ltd (1990) 20 NSWLR 310 applied Ryan v Textile Clothing and Foolwear Union of Australia [1996] 2 VR 235 applied FAI Traders Insurance Company Ltd v Savoy Plaza Pty Ltd [1993] 2 VR 343 applied Jennings Construction Ltd v F R Coyle Pty Ltd 17 October 1984 NSWCA applied Cox v Goldcrest Developments (NSW) Pty Ltd (2000) 50 NSWLR 76 referred to C H Magill v National Australia Bank Limited [2001] NSWCA 221 referred to Winstonu Pty Ltd v Pitson [2001] FCA 541 referred to Valentines Properties Pty Ltd v Hunico Corp Ltd [2000] 3 NZLR 16 referred to Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd v Qantas Airways Ltd [2003] FCA 174 referred to United States Surgical Corporation v Hospital Products International Pty Ltd [1982] 2 NSWLR 766 referred to Renard Constructions (ME) Pty Ltd v Minister for Public Works (1992) 26 NSWLR 234 referred to O'Keefe v Williams (1910) 11 CLR 171 referred to Wheeler Grace & Pierucci Pty Ltd v Wright Pty Ltd (1989) ATPR 40-940 referred to and discussed Bowler v Hilda Pty Ltd (1998) 80 FCR 191 referred to Famel Pty Ltd v Burswood Management Ltd (1989) ATPR 40-962 referred to Holman Construction Ltd v Dalton Timber Company Ltd [1972] NZLR 1081 referred to Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180 referred to Ellis v Wallsend District Hospital (1989) 17 NSWLR 553 referred to Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638 applied Poseidon Ltd & Sellers v Adelaide Petroleum N L (1994) 179 CLR 332 applied Fightvision Pty Ltd v Onisforou (1999) 47 NSWLR 473 applied Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 referred to and discussed H G v The Queen (1999) 197 CLR 414 referred to and discussed Velevski v The Queen (2002) 187 ALR 233 referred to Ocean Marine Mutual Insurance Association (Europe) OV v Jetopay Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 1463 referred to Quick v Stoland Pty Ltd (1998) 87 FCR 371 (Full Court) referred to and discussed Brown v Jam Factory Pty Ltd (1981) 53 FLR 340 referred to Marks v GIO Australia Holdings (1998) 196 CLR 494 referred to Kenny & Good Pty Ltd v MGICA (1992) Ltd (1999) 199 CLR 413 referred to Henville v Walker (2001) 206 CLR 459 referred to Johnson v Perez (1998) 166 CLR 351 referred to Carter and Harland Contract Law in Australia (4th Ed) referred to Cole "The Concept of Reasonableness in Construction Contract" (1994) 10 BCL 7 referred to Dorter and Sharkey Building and Construction Contracts in Australia: law and practice (2nd Ed) referred to Goff and Jones The Law of Restitution (4th Ed) referred to Carter "Ineffective Transactions" in Finn (ed) Essays on Restitution referred to Mason and Carter Restitution Law in Australia referred to Dietrich Restitution: A New Perspective referred to H K Lűcke "Illusory, Vague and Uncertain Contractual Terms", Adelaide Law Review Vol 6(1) September 1977 at 1 referred to M Chen-Wishart "Consideration, Practical Benefit and the Emperor's New Clothes" in Beatson et al Good Faith and Fault in Contract Law referred to Sir Anthony Mason "Contract, Good Faith and Equitable Standards in Fair Dealing" (2000) 116 LQR 66 referred to Baron "'Good Faith' and Construction Contracts – From Small Acorns Large Oaks Grow" (2002) 22 Aust Bar Rev 54 referred to Charles "Interpretation of Ambiguous Contracts by Reference to Subsequent Conduct" (1991) 4 JCL 16 referred to Seddon Government Contracts; Federal, State and Local (2nd Ed) referred to EVANS DEAKIN PTY LTD v SEBEL FURNITURE LTD N 768 of 1999 ALLSOP J 12 MARCH 2003 SYDNEY