Jianshe Southern Pty Ltd (ACN 007 031 905) v Turnbull Cooktown Pty Ltd (ACN 069 894 275) [2007] FCA 489

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Jianshe Southern Pty Ltd (ACN 007 031 905) v Turnbull Cooktown Pty Ltd (ACN 069 894 275) [2007] FCA 489

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for summary judgment – applicant alleges breaches of Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) and breach of contract – applicant seeks summary judgment for damages to be assessed on part of claim only – where applicant alleges an oral agreement between applicant and first respondent – where respondents allege oral agreement with different terms – whether relevant part of claim can be determined with certainty without determination of factual issues at trial – where applicant makes alternative claim for declaratory relief – whether declaratory relief should be granted in the circumstances – whether application for summary judgment should be brought pursuant to O 20 r 1 of the Federal Court Rules or s 31A of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth). Held: terms of agreement cannot finally be determined without determination of factual issues at trial – applicant has not established any loss or damage or causation – establishing loss or damage an essential element of the relevant cause of action – not an appropriate case for declaratory relief – real issue of fact will defeat application for summary judgment under either s 31A of the Federal Court of Australia Act or O 20 r 1 of the Federal Court Rules – application dismissed.

Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 31A Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 51AD, 51AE, 75B, 82 Trade Practices (Industry Codes – Franchising) Regulations 1998 (Cth) reg 4 (1)

Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552 cited Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales; Batistatos v Newcastle City Council (2006) 80 ALJR 1100 cited Duncan v Lipscombe Child Care Services Inc [2006] FCA 458cited Garrett v Macks [2006] FCA 601 cited General Newspapers Pty Ltd v Telstra Corporation (1993) 45 FCR 164 cited General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 considered Hicks v Ruddock [2007] FCA 299 cited Jenkins v NZI Securities Australia Ltd (1994) 52 FCR 572 cited Jewiss v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2006] FCA 1688 cited Magman International v Westpac Banking Corporation (1991) 32 FCR 1 cited Neeta (Epping) Pty Ltd v Phillips (1974) 131 CLR 286 cited Truth About Motorways Pty Ltd v Macquarie Infrastructure Investment Management Ltd (2000) 34 ACSR 673 cited JIANSHE SOUTHERN PTY LTD (ACN 007 031 905) v TURNBULL COOKTOWN PTY LTD (ACN 069 894 275) AND GRAEME ELLIS TURNBULL VID 103 OF 2006