Energex Limited v Alstom Australia Limited [2004] FCA 575

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Energex Limited v Alstom Australia Limited [2004] FCA 575

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – pleadings – application for summary judgment or strike out of statement of claim – whether allegations under s 82(1) of Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) statute barred under s 82(2) – whether cause of action accrues at time agreement to purchase goods entered into, or when loss and damage discovered – whether limitation defence should be dealt with at interlocutory stage – whether allegations under ss 80 and 87 included in order to circumvent limitation period – whether those allegations fail to disclose cause of action, are frivolous or vexatious, or abuse of process – whether failure to plead essential elements of tort of deceit

WORDS & PHRASES – "in trade or commerce" – s 51AC of Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) – whether reliance upon limitation defence constitutes conduct in trade or commerce

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Pt IV and ss 45, 51AC, 80, 82, and 87

ACCC v ABB Transmission and Distribution Limited (2001) ATPR 41-815 referred to ACCC v ABB Transmission and Distribution Limited (2001) ATPR 41-839 referred to Gould v Vaggelas (1985) 157 CLR 215 referred to State of Queensland v Pioneer Concrete (Qld) Pty Ltd (1999) ATPR 41-691 referred to Wardley Australia Limited v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 applied Arcadi v Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd (1984) ATPR 40-473 referred to Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332 referred to Torrens Aloha Pty Ltd v Citibank NA (1997) 72 FCR 581 referred to Keen Mar Corporation Pty Ltd v Labrador Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd (1988) ATPR 40-853 referred to Australian Iron & Steel Ltd v Hoogland (1962) 108 CLR 471 referred to Mayne Nickless Ltd v Multigroup Distribution Services Pty Ltd (2001) 114 FCR 108 discussed Williams v Spautz (1992) 174 CLR 509 referred to Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378 referred to James v ANZ Banking Group Ltd (1986) 64 ALR 347 referred to Karedis Enterprises Pty Ltd v Antoniou (1995) 59 FCR 35 applied Potts v Miller (1940) 64 CLR 282 referred to Jobbins v Capel Court Corporation Ltd (1989) 25 FCR 226 referred to ACCC v CG Verbatis Holdings Pty Ltd (2001) ATPR 41-802 referred to Multigroup Distribution Services Pty Ltd v TNT Australia Pty Ltd (1996) ATPR 41-522 referred to Sammy Russo Supplies Pty Ltd v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd (1998) ATPR 41-641 referred to Western Australia v Wardley Australia Ltd (1991) 30 FCR 245 applied Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 494 referred to I & L Securities Pty Ltd v HTW Valuers (Brisbane) Pty Ltd (2002) 210 CLR 109 referred to Cartledge v E Jopling & Sons Ltd [1963] AC 758 discussed Blacker v National Australia Bank Ltd (2001) ATPR 41-817 referred to Troulis v Vamvoukakis (unreported, NSW Court of Appeal, 27 February 1998) referred to Williams v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [1999] NSWCA 345 referred to Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 referred to Hawkins v Clayton (1988) 164 CLR 539 discussed Brunninghausen v Glavanics (1999) 46 NSWLR 538 referred to Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 applied General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 applied Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598 referred to McKellar v Container Terminal Management Services Ltd (1999) 165 ALR 409 applied Bank Commerciale SA (In Liq) v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279 referred to Murphy v Overton Investments Pty Ltd (2004) 204 ALR 26 discussed Little v Law Institute of Victoria & Ors (No 3) [1990] VR 257 applied Re Ku-ring-gai Co-operative Building Society (No 12) Ltd (1978) 22 ALR 621 referred to Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd v NRMA Insurance Ltd (2002) 124 FCR 518 referred to Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594 applied The Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 referred to Atlantic City Electric Co v General Electric Co 312 F2d 236 (1962) referred to Bailey v Glover 88 US 342 (1874) referred to Scarcella v Lettice (2000) 51 NSWLR 302 discussed Imperial Gas Light and Coke Co v London Gas Light Co (1854) 10 Exch 39; 156 ER 346 referred to Hunter v Gibbons (1856) 1 H & N 459; 156 ER 1281 referred to Armstrong v Milburn [1886-90] All ER Rep 596 referred to R v McNeil (1922) 31 CLR 76 referred to Metacel Pty Ltd v Ralph Symonds Ltd (1969) 90 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 449 referred to Gibbs v Guild (1882) 9 QBD 59 referred to Cubillo v Commonwealth (1999) 89 FCR 528 referred to Noble v Victoria [1999] QCA 110 referred to Director of Public Prosecutions v Ray [1974] AC 370 discussed Smith v Hughes (1871) LR 6 QB 597 referred to