Crackin’ Snack Pty Ltd v Gameking Australia Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 182

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Crackin' Snack Pty Ltd v Gameking Australia Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 182 Hearing dates: 22 May 2024 Date of orders: 30 July 2024 Decision date: 30 July 2024 Before: Bell CJ at [1]; Payne JA at [249]; and Adamson JA at [250] Decision: 1. Dismiss the appeal. 2. Order the Appellants to pay the Respondents' costs of the appeal. 3. Refuse leave to appeal from the costs judgment of Andronos SC DCJ. 4. Order the Appellants to pay the Respondents' costs of the application for leave to appeal from the costs judgment of Andronos SC DCJ. Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – Misleading or deceptive conduct – Purported termination of contract – "No transaction" case – Termination unavailable where breach of contract was minor and innocent party affirmed the contract COURTS AND JUDGES – Bias – Alleged "differential" treatment of parties – Adverse credibility assessments not evidence of bias COSTS – Where a judge other than the trial judge determines costs – Offer of compromise unreasonably rejected – Discretion as to costs not constrained by Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 36.16(3A) where primary judge expressly provided opportunity to apply to vary costs order under that rule. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 56, 98 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) sch 2 – Australian Consumer Law ss 236, 237 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 14.14, 36.15, 36.16(3A) Cases Cited: Calderbank v Calderbank [1975] 3 All ER 333 Carpenter v Morris [2023] NSWCA 154 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64; [1991] HCA 54 Damjanovic v Sharpe Hume and Co [2001] NSWCA 407 Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658; [1982] HCA 70 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 Feldman v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2020) 103 NSWLR 307; [2020] NSWCA 260 Henville v Walker (2001) 206 CLR 459; [2001] HCA 52 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Keegan v Ballast Point Pty Ltd [2022] NSWCA 179 Krakowski v Eurolynx Properties Ltd (1995) 183 CLR 563; [1995] HCA 68 Majak v Rose (No 5) [2017] NSWCA 238 Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd v Nicholls (2011) 244 CLR 427; [2011] HCA 48 Mohareb v Booth [2020] NSWCA 49 Mohareb v Kelso (No 2) [2018] NSWCA 246 Mohareb v State of New South Wales (No 2) [2024] NSWCA 69 Murphy v Overton Investments Pty Ltd (2004) 216 CLR 388; [2004] HCA 3 QYFM v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2023] HCA 15; (2023) 97 ALJR 419 Ranclose Investments Pty Ltd v Leda Management Services Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] NSWCA 13 State of New South Wales v Hollingsworth (No 2) [2023] NSWCA 283 Zakaria v Dr Noyce [2012] NSWSC 981 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Crackin' Snack Pty Ltd (First Appellant) Simon John Hall (Second Appellant)