Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Radio Rentals Limited [2005] FCA 1133

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Radio Rentals Limited [2005] FCA 1133

TRADE PRACTICES – unconscionable conduct – s 51AA and s 51AB Trade Practices Act 1974 considered – retailer and mentally incapacitated customer and multiple dealings – frequent service and telephone calls – whether retailer knew or ought to have known of customer's disadvantage TRADE PRACTICES – unconscionable conduct and the unwritten law – basis of unconscionable dealing doctrine – limits to knowledge requirement CORPORATIONS – aggregation of knowledge possessed by employees – proof of knowledge for purposes of unconscionable dealings doctrine Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 51AA, s 51AB Social Security Act 1991 (Cth)

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v C G Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd (2003) 214 CLR 51 cited Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447 discussed Bridgewater v Leahy (1998) 194 CLR 457 cited Hart v O'Connor [1985] AC 1000 cited Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362 referred to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Samton Holdings Pty Ltd (2002) 117 FCR 301 cited Louth v Diprose (1992) 175 CLR 621 discussed Micarone v Perpetual Trustees Australia Ltd (1999) 75 SASR 1 cited Melverton v Commonwealth Development Bank of Australia, SCNSW, 30 June 1989 cited Owen and Gutch v Homan (1853) 4 HLC 997 cited Garcia v National Australia Bank Ltd (1998) 194 CLR 395 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Simply No-Knead (Franchising) Pty Ltd (2000) 104 FCR 253 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v C G Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd (No 2) (2000) 96 FCR 491 cited Cameron v Qantas Airways Ltd (1994) 55 FCR 147 cited Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 considered Hurley v McDonald's Australia Pty Ltd (2000) ATPR 41-741 cited Garry Rogers Motors (Aust) Pty Ltd v Subaru (Aust) Pty Ltd (1999) ATPR 41-703 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Keshow [2005] FCA 558 cited Re HIH Insurance Ltd (in prov liq) & HIH Casualty & General Insurance Ltd (in prov liq) (2002) 41 ACSR 72 cited Cubillo v Commonwealth (No 2)(2000) 103 FCR 1 cited Krakowski v Eurolynx Properties Ltd (1995) 183 CLR 563 not followed Macquarie Bank Ltd v Sixty-Fourth Throne Pty Ltd [1998] 3 VR 133 discussed Re Chisum Services Pty Ltd (1982) 1 ACLC 292 referred to Beach Petroleum N L v Johnson (1993) 115 ALR 411 cited Dunlop v Woollahra Municipal Council [1975] 2 NSWLR 447 cited Elliot v Nanda (2000) 111 FCR 240 cited Stern v McArthur (1988) 165 CLR 489 cited Quistclose Investments Ltd v Rolls Razor Ltd [1970] AC 567 cited