Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Helou [2019] FCA 1634

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Helou [2019] FCA 1634 File number: VID 682 of 2019

Judge: BEACH J

Date of judgment: 4 October 2019

Catchwords: CORPORATIONS – multiple regulatory enforcement proceedings – breaches of duties of directors and officers – ASIC proceedings against chief executive officer and chief financial officer for disqualification orders – earlier ASIC proceedings against corporate entity – separate ACCC proceedings against corporate entity and officers for disqualification orders – application for permanent stay of proceedings – overlap of proceedings – vexatious and oppressive proceedings – administration of justice – abuse of process – applications dismissed

Legislation: Australian Consumer Law ss 18, 21, 29, 224, 248 Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) ss 1, 12A, 12DA, 13, 19, 102 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) ss 26, 155, Sch 2 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 180, 206C, 206E, 674, 675, 1041H, 1317F, 1317G, 1317J, 1317N, 1349 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 33M, 33V

Cases cited: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Murray Goulburn Co-Operative Co Limited [2018] FCA 1964 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Swishette Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 55 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales (2006) 226 CLR 256 Blatch v Archer (1774) 98 ER 969 Johnson v Gore Wood & Co [2002] 2 AC 1 Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd v Nicholls (2011) 244 CLR 427 Ridgeway v The Queen (1995) 184 CLR 19 Rogers v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 251 Rozenblit v Vainer (2018) 262 CLR 478 Strickland v Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (2018) 93 ALJR 1; 361 ALR 23 Tomlinson v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 507 UBS AG v Tyne (2018) 92 ALJR 968; 360 ALR 184