Miletich v Murchie [2012] FCA 1013

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Miletich v Murchie [2012] FCA 1013 Citation: Miletich v Murchie [2012] FCA 1013

Parties: KATHLEEN PHYLLIS MILETICH, ADRIAN MARK MILETICH and KALEL ENTERPRISES PTY LIMITED (ACN 121 109 108) v ALAN MURCHIE, WILMOT MURCHIE PTY LIMITED (ACN 103 108 603), 83 EAST PTY LIMITED (ACN 094 852 507) (IN LIQUIDATION) and STEPHEN FRANCIS DONNELLY

File number: VID 517 of 2010

Judge: GRAY J

Date of judgment: 17 September 2012

Catchwords: TRADE PRACTICES – misleading and deceptive conduct – prospective operators of cafe franchise in new shopping centre development – representations about businesses of other tenants and extent of patronage – representations made by computer-animated video, brochure and orally – further representations in written landlord disclosure statement – whether misleading and deceptive – whether relied on – calculation of loss and damage – calculation of interest TRADE PRACTICES – concurrent wrongdoers – apportionment of liability – letting agent and its director, developer and its director – whether necessary for respondent to plead and prove material facts relevant to apportionment – effect of provisions relating to vicarious liability

Legislation: Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 71, 161 Fair Trading Act 1999 (Vic) ss 9, 9(1), 159(1) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 51A Retail Leases Act 2003 (Vic) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 51A, 51A(1), 51A(2), 52, 75B(1)(a), 75B(1)(b), 75B(1)(c), 82, 82(1), Pt VIA, 87CB, 87CB(1), 87CB(2), 87CB(5), 87CD, 87CD(1), 87CD(3)(b) 87CD(5), 87CI(a) Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic) Pt IVAA, ss 24AF(2), 24AH(1), 24AH(2), 24AI(1), 24AI(3), 24AP(a), 24AP(b), 24AP(d)