Becker Group Ltd v Motion Picture Company of Australia Ltd [2004] FCA 630

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Becker Group Ltd v Motion Picture Company of Australia Ltd [2004] FCA 630 CONTRACT – film distribution agreement – licensor asserted that it was not bound by agreement – whether assertion constituted repudiation – whether distributor accepted repudiation DAMAGES – licensor promised to put distributor in funds to meet a separate liability to a third party – whether distributor entitled to recover amount of liability – second 'limb' of Hadley v Baxendale

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 51A, 52, 81 McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Ltd (1933) 48 CLR 457 cited Shevill v Builders Licensing Board (1982) 149 CLR 620 cited Associated Newspapers Ltd v Bancks (1951) 83 CLR 322 cited Tramways Advertising Pty Ltd v Luna Park (NSW) Ltd (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 632 cited Perri v Coolangatta Investments Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 537 cited Friedlander v The Bank of Australasia (1909) 8 CLR 85 cited Ankar Pty Ltd v National Westminster Finance (Australia) Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 549 cited Amann Aviation Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1990) 22 FCR 527 cited Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64 cited GEC Marconi Systems Pty Ltd v BHP Information Technology Pty Ltd (2003) 128 FCR 1 cited Holland v Wiltshire (1954) 90 CLR 409 cited Heyman v Darwins Ltd [1942] AC 356 cited Lakshmijit v Faiz Sherani [1974] AC 605 cited Shepherd v Felt and Textiles of Australia Ltd (1931) 45 CLR 359 applied Carr v J A Berriman Pty Ltd (1953) 89 CLR 327 cited Lamson Paragon Ltd v Spicers (Australia) Ltd [1953] SASR 297 cited Hammond & Co v Bussey (1887) 20 QBD 79 cited R & H Hall Ltd v W H Pim (Junior) and Co Ltd (1928) 33 Com Cas 324 applied Hadley v Baxendale (1854) 9 Ex 341; 156 ER 145 applied James Finlay & Co Ltd v NV Kwik Hoo Tong Handel Maatschappij [1929] 1 KB 400 cited North Sea Energy Holdings NV v Petroleum Authority of Thailand [1997] 2 Lloyd's Rep 418 cited Wadsworth v Lydall [1981] 1 WLR 598 cited President of India v La Pintada Compania Navigacion SA [1985] AC 104 cited Hungerfords v Walker (1989) 171 CLR 125 cited JW Carter and D J Harland, Contract Law in Australia (4th ed, 2002) JW Carter, Breach of Contract (2nd ed, 1991) BECKER GROUP LTD v MOTION PICTURE COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LTD (FORMERLY SCANBOX ASIA PACIFIC LTD) N 404 of 2002 SACKVILLE J SYDNEY 24 MAY 2004