Needlework Warehouse Pty Ltd v Chansonette Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1525

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Needlework Warehouse Pty Ltd v Chansonette Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1525

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Federal Court has jurisdiction to enforce contract which settles proceeding before the Court – appropriate to do so on a motion brought within the proceeding. FEDERAL JURISDICTION – Federal Court has jurisdiction to enforce contract which settles proceeding before the Court – appropriate to do so on a motion brought within the proceeding. CONTRACT – contract settling a proceeding pending before Federal Court – contract made by correspondence between parties' solicitors – whether parties contemplated that the agreement would not become enforceable until written agreement signed. CONTRACT – 'without prejudice' – does not make correspondence inadmissible to prove that it constituted a concluded contract.

WORDS AND PHRASES – 'without prejudice' – does not make correspondence inadmissible to prove that it constituted a concluded contract.

Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 19, 22 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B(1A) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 86

Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally (1999) 198 CLR 511 followed LNC Industries Ltd v BMW (Australia) Ltd (1983) 151 CLR 575 followed Wenkart v Pantzer (No 3) (2004) 135 FCR 422 referred to Darling Downs Investments Pty Ltd v Ellwood (1988) 18 FCR 510 followed Reid v Interarch Australia Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 1328 followed We Two Pty Ltd v Shorrock (No 2) [2005] FCA 934 followed Jarraman Arts Aboriginal Corporation v Tourism Australia (No 3) [2005] FCA 983 followed Pallas v Finlay (1985) 61 ALR 220 distinguished Macteldir Pty Ltd v Dimovski (2003) 132 FCR 492 distinguished Fencott v Muller (1983) 152 CLR 570 referred to Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs v SZANS (2005) 141 FCR 586 cited Bank of Western Australia Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1994) 55 FCR 233 cited Cooper v Commissioner of Taxation (2004) 139 FCR 205 cited Roberts v Gippsland Agricultural & Earth Moving Contracting Co Pty Ltd [1956] VLR 555 followed McLaren v Schuit (1983) 33 SASR 139 followed General Credits (Finance) Pty Ltd v Fenton Lake Pty Ltd [1985] 2 Qd R 6 followed Donellan v Watson (1990) 21 NSWLR 335 followed Walker v Wilsher (1889) 23 QBD 335 cited Tellerman & Co Pty Ltd v Nathan's Merchandise (Victoria) Pty Ltd (1957) 98 CLR 93 cited Bentley v Nelson [1963] WAR 89 cited Tomlin v Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd [1969] 1 WLR 1378 cited Rush & Tompkins Ltd v Greater London Council [1988] 3 WLR 939 cited Quad Consulting Pty Ltd v David R Bleakley & Associates Pty Ltd (1990) 27 FCR 86 cited Cedenco Foods Ltd v State Insurance Ltd [1996] 3 NZLR 205 cited Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 referred to McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Ltd (1933) 48 CLR 457 referred to