Maurtray Pty Limited v Pillemer Pty Limited [2022] NSWSC 1181

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Maurtray Pty Limited v Pillemer Pty Limited [2022] NSWSC 1181 Hearing dates: 27, 28, 29 and 30 September and 18 November 2021 Date of orders: 02 September 2022 Decision date: 02 September 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Williams J Decision: Proceedings dismissed - see paragraph [548]. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – construction of clause in loan agreement requiring borrower to give to lender certain documents or information "received or accessible by" the borrower – where the sole shareholder and director of the borrower companies was also the chief executive officer (but not the directing mind and will) of another company – held that confidential information of that other company received by its chief executive officer in his capacity as such was not attributed to and was not "received or accessible by" the borrower companies within the meaning of the clause MISLEADING OR DECEPTIVE CONDUCT – alleged misleading or deceptive express and implied representations – held that alleged representations not proved – alleged misleading or deceptive conduct by silence or partial disclosure – allegations not proved because (inter alia) no reasonable expectation that undisclosed matters would be disclosed Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 11, 12,183 and 1043A Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Schedule 2 (Australian Consumer Law), ss 18, 79, 236 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd (1973) 129 CLR 99; [1973] HCA 36 Cherry v Steele-Park (2017) 96 NSWLR 548; [2017] NSWCA 295 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1982) 149 CLR 337; [1982] HCA 24 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64; [1991] HCA 54 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd (2017) 261 CLR 544; [2017] HCA 12 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 ET-China.com International Holdings Ltd v Cheung (2021) 388 ALR 128; [2021] NSWCA 24 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Henville v Walker (2001) 206 CLR 459; (2001) 182 ALR 37; [2001] HCA 52, I & L Securities Pty Ltd v HTW Valuers (Brisbane) Pty Ltd (2002) 210 CLR 109; (2002) 192 ALR 1; [2002] HCA 41 John Holland Pty Ltd v Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 451 McGrath v Stueresteps (2011) 81 NSWLR 690; [2011] NSWCA 315 Moubarak by his tutor Coorey v Holt (2019) 100 NSWLR 218; [2019] NSWCA 102 Newey v Westpac Banking Corporation [2014] NSWCA 319 Placer (GrannySmith) Pty Ltd v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd (2003) 196 ALR 257; (2003) 77 ALJR 768; [2003] HCA 10 Robinson v Harman (1848) 1 Ex 850; 154 ER 363 Ryan Wealth Holdings Pty Ltd v Baumgartner (2018) 131 ACSR 236; [2018] NSWSC 1502 Sanpoint Pty Ltd v V8 Supercars Holdings Pty Ltd (2019) 134 ACSR 424; [2019] NSWCA 5 Strategic Communications Management Pty Ltd v Techfront Australia Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 847 Troulis v Vamvoukakis [1998] NSWCA 237 Warner v Hung, in the matter of Bellpac Pty Ltd (recs and mgrs aptd) (in liq) (No.2) (2011) 297 ALR 56; [2011] FCA 1123 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 WIN Corporation Pty Ltd v Nine Network Australis Pty Ltd (2016) 341 ALR 467; [2016] NSWCA 297 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Heydon on Contract (2019) P Herzfeld and T Prince, Interpretation (2nd ed, 2020) R P Austin and I M Ramsay, Ford, Austin and Ramsay's Principles of Corporations Law (17th ed, 2018) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Maurtray Pty Limited (ACN 086 027 027) (Plaintiff) Pillemer Pty Ltd (ACN 120 539 488) (First Defendant) Pillemer Family Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 130 257 680) as trustee for the Pillemer Family Trust (Second Defendant) Mr Russel Craig Pillemer (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr I Jackman SC with Mr T Marskell (Plaintiff) Mr C R C Newlinds SC with Ms M E Hall (Defendants)