Blackmores Ltd v Jestins Enterprises Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1177

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Blackmores Ltd v Jestins Enterprises Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1177 Hearing dates: 10 to 13 August 2020 Decision date: 02 September 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Ball J Decision: 1. Judgment for the plaintiff against the defendants in the sum of $1,750,096.76; 2. The cross-claim be dismissed; 3. The defendants pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings (including the cross-claim); 4. Liberty to apply to vary order (3) within 21 days' of the date of this judgment; and 5. Liberty to apply to the defendants to seek an order in relation to Mr Shulman's costs of appearing at the hearing within 21 days' of the date of this judgment. Catchwords: CONTRACTS - Where amount claimed not disputed – Cross claim - Whether alleged oral representation changed terms of agreement – Whether alleged representations misleading and deceptive under Australian Consumer Law, s 18 – Whether alleged conduct unconscionable under Australian Consumer Law, s 21 – Interpretation of deed of release and discharge – Whether deed effective to release claim under Australian Consumer Law, s 18 EVIDENCE – Expert evidence – Where expert report based on unproven assumptions – Remarks on the importance of a degree of formality in the Court processes Legislation Cited: Australian Consumer Law Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: Firstmac Fiduciary Services Pty Ltd v HSBC Bank of Australia Ltd [2012] NSWSC 1122 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 494, [1998] HCA 69 Omega Air Inc v CAE Australia Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 802 Owners SP 62930 v Kell & Rigby Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 1342 Williams v Pisano (2015) 90 NSWLR 342, [2015] NSWCA 177 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Blackmores Limited (ACN 009 713 437) (Plaintiff/Cross Defendant) Jestins Enterprises Pty Ltd (ACN 153 624 509) (First Defendant/First Cross-Claimant) Alex Puthenpurackal (Second Defendant/Second Cross-Claimant) Pharmadeal International Pty Ltd (ACN 615 201 338) (Third Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: A d'Arville (Plaintiff/Cross Defendant) M Baroni (Defendants/Cross Claimants)