Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v RL Adams Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 1016

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v RL Adams Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 1016 Citation: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v RL Adams Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 1016

Parties: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v RL ADAMS PTY LTD (ACN 093 556 613)

File number: QUD 672 of 2014

Judge: EDELMAN J

Date of judgment: 11 September 2015

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – contraventions of Australian Consumer Law admitted – admitted facts concerning "free range" representations – need for general deterrence – appropriateness of submissions concerning the pattern of existing and pending cases and matters relating to general deterrence – totality principle – impermissible submissions concerning quantum of penalty – whether injunction should be ordered

Legislation: Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) ss 6A, 18, 29(1)(a), 33, 224, 224(2), 224(3), 232(4), 246 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 191 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 21

Cases cited: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ABB Transmission and Distribution Ltd (No 2) [2002] FCA 559; (2002) 190 ALR 169 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v AGL South Australia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 399 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Bruhn [2012] FCA 959; [2012] ATPR 42-414 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Chopra [2015] FCA 539 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v CI & Co Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 1511 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 146 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v G O Drew Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 1246 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Luv-A-Duck Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 1136; [2013] ATPR 42-455 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Pepe's Ducks Ltd [2013] FCA 570; [2013] ATPR 42-441 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Pirovic Enterprises Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] FCA 1028; [2014] ATPR 42-483 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Rural Press Ltd [2001] FCA 1065; (2001) ATPR 43-285 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd (No 4) [2011] FCA 761; (2011) 282 ALR 246 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2006] FCA 1730 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 54; (2013) 250 CLR 640 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Turi Foods Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] FCA 19 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Turi Foods Pty Ltd (No 5) [2013] FCA 1109; [2013] ATPR 42-450 Barbaro v The Queen [2014] HCA 2; (2014) 253 CLR 58 Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2015] FCAFC 59 Forster v Jododex Aust Pty Ltd [1972] HCA 61; (1972) 127 CLR 421 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20; (2012) 287 ALR 249 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Ltd [1991] ATPR 41-076 Wong v The Queen [2001] HCA 64; (2001) 207 CLR 58