Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SensaSlim Australia Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 7) [2016] FCA 484

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SensaSlim Australia Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 7) [2016] FCA 484 File number: NSD 1163 of 2011

Judge: YATES J

Date of judgment: 11 May 2016

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – contraventions of consumer protection provisions in Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) and the Australian Consumer Law – corporate and personal respondents – misrepresentations as to involvement of personal respondents in franchise system – misrepresentations as to standard and quality of weight loss product – misrepresentations as to prospective earnings of franchise – pecuniary penalties – disqualification orders – injunctions

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Pt IVB, Sch 2 ss 18, 29, 224, 232, 239, 248 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 601AH Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 51A, 52, 53, 59, 76, 76E, 80, 86E, 87AAA, 155

Cases cited: ACCC v Halkalia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] ATPR 42-399; [2012] FCA 535 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v 4WD Systems Pty Ltd (2003) 200 ALR 491; [2003] FCA 850 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ACN 135 183 372 (in liq) (formerly known as Energy Watch Pty Ltd) [2012] ATPR 42-405; [2012] FCA 749 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Securities and Investments Commission, in the matter of SensaSlim Australia Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2015] ATPR 42-500; [2015] FCA 258 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Boyle [2015] FCA 1039 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v CG Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] ATPR 41-802; [2000] FCA 1893 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Chaste Corporation (No 1) (2003) 127 FCR 418; [2003] FCA 180 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Chaste Corporation Pty Ltd (in liquidation) [2005] FCA 1212 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Chaste Corporation Pty Ltd (No 3) [2013] FCA 984 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Chaste Corporation Pty Ltd (No 6) (2013) 223 FCR 426; [2013] FCA 1112 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd (in liquidation) (2007) 161 FCR 513; [2007] FCAFC 146 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v EDirect Pty Ltd (in liq) (2012) 206 FCR 160; [2012] FCA 976 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Global One Mobile Entertainment Limited [2011] ATPR 42-358; [2011] FCA 393 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Gourmet Goody's Family Restaurant Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 1216 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Health Partners Incorporated [1998] ATPR 41-604; [1997] FCA 1469 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v High Adventure Pty Ltd [2006] ATPR 42-091; [2005] FCAFC 247 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Leahy Petroleum Pty Ltd (No 2) (2005) 215 ALR 281; [2005] FCA 254 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (No 2) (2011) 279 ALR 609; [2011] FCA 382 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd [1996] ATPR 41-515; [1996] FCA 670 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Safety Compliance Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 2) [2015] FCA 1469 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SensaSlim Australia Pty Limited (in liq) (No 5) (2014) 98 ACSR 347; [2014] FCA 340 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SensaSlim Australia Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 6) [2014] FCA 1035 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd (No 4) (2011) 282 ALR 246; [2011] FCA 761 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SIP Australia Pty Limited [2003] ATPR 41-937; [2003] FCA 336 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Telstra Corporation Ltd (2010) 188 FCR 238; [2010] FCA 790 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v The Vales Wine Company Pty Ltd [1996] ATPR 41-528; [1996] FCA 854 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (2013) 250 CLR 640; [2013] HCA 54 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Yellow Page Marketing BV (No 2) (2011) 195 FCR 1; [2011] FCA 352 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Z-Tek Computer Pty Ltd (1997) 78 FCR 197; [1997] FCA 871 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Australian Property Custodian Holdings Ltd (recs and mgrs apptd) (in liq) (controllers appointed) (2014) 322 ALR 45; [2014] FCA 1308 Barbaro v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2 Commonwealth v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate (2015) 326 ALR 476; [2015] HCA 46 Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2015) 229 FCR 331; [2015] FCAFC 59 Dynamic Supplies Pty Limited v Tonnex International Pty Limited (No 2) [2011] FCA 675 ICI Australia Operations Pty Limited v Trade Practices Commission (1992) 38 FCR 248; [1992] FCA 707 Kerkhoffs v Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations [2014] FCAFC 66 NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285; [1996] FCA 1134 Pye Industries Sales Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission [1979] ATPR 40-124 R v Foster [2009] 1 Qd R 53; [2008] QCA 90. Re HIH Insurance Ltd (in prov liq); Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Adler (2002) 42 ACSR 80; [2002] NSWSC 483 Rich v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2004) 220 CLR 129; [2004] HCA 42 Shoshana Pty Ltd v 10th Cantanae Pty Ltd (1987) 18 FCR 285 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2012) 287 ALR 249; [2012] FCAFC 20 TPG Internet Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2012) 210 FCR 277; [2012] FCAFC 190 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Limited [1991] ATPR 41-076; [1990] FCA 762 Trade Practices Commission v Mobil Oil Australia Ltd (1984) 4 FCR 296; [1984] FCA 403 Trade Practices Commission v Tubemakers of Australia Ltd [1983] ATPR 40-390; [1983] FCA 209