191 Bells Pty Ltd v WJ & HL Crittle Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 221

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: 191 Bells Pty Ltd v WJ & HL Crittle Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 221 Hearing dates: 8 August 2024 Date of orders: 16 September 2024 Decision date: 16 September 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; Payne JA at [185]; Stern JA at [186] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – Misleading conduct under statute – Misleading or deceptive conduct – Whether positive representations made as to contamination on land – Whether there was a reasonable expectation of disclosure – Whether disclosures made amounted to half-truths CONTRACTS – Construction – Whether primary judge erred in construing "as far as possible" in the context of an obligation to assist in due diligence process – Whether vendor under positive obligation to disclose all matters which may be relevant – Appeal dismissed with costs Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Sch 2 – Australian Consumer Law, ss 18, 237, 243 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 55 Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2017 Cases Cited: 191 Bells Pty Ltd v HJ & HL Crittle Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 297 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Haddad [2015] NSWCA 186 Arnold v Britton [2016] 1 All ER 1; [2015] AC 1619 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Limited (2004) 218 CLR 592; [2004] HCA 60 Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 238 CLR 304; [2009] HCA 25 Codelfa v State Rail Authority (1982) 149 CLR 337; [1982] HCA 24 Colquhoun v Brooks (1888) 21 QBD 52 Commissioner of Patents v Ono Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (2022) 291 FCR 1 Demagogue Pty Ltd v Ramensky (1992) 39 FCR 31 Hall v Fish Board [1957] St R Qd 565 Kooee Communications Pty Ltd v Primus Telecommunications Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 5 Metz Holdings Pty Ltd v Simmac Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 981 Miller & Associates Insurance Broking Pty Ltd v BMW Australia Finance Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 357; [2010] HCA 31 Wormald v Maradaca Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 289 Texts Cited: NSW EPA Waste Classification Guidelines Category: Principal judgment Parties: 191 Bells Pty Ltd (Appellant) WJ & HL Crittle Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Warren John Crittle (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Fernon SC with L Cooper-Hackman (Appellant) S Robertson SC with B Douglas-Baker (Respondents)