Ace Business Brokers Pty Ltd v Phillips-Treby [2000] NSWIRComm 163

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Ace Business Brokers Pty Ltd v Phillips-Treby [2000] NSWIRComm 163 FIRST APPELLANT Ace Business Brokers Pty Limited SECOND APPELLANT Michael Godfrey Smith PARTIES : FIRST RESPONDENT Nilda Phillips-Treby SECOND RESPONDENT Robert Phillips-Treby FILE NUMBER: IRC 3428 of 1999 CORAM: Wright J President; Glynn J; Hungerford J Appeal - Application for leave to appeal - Against order for payment of money in connection with an unfair contract - Misrepresentations by agent - Nature of appeal - Facts found - Exercise of discretion - Leave granted - Appeal dismissed, with costs. CATCHWORDS : Unfair Contract - Appeal against monetary order - Franchise agreement - Representations by principal's agent - Inducement to prospective franchisee to make agreement - Duty of business agent - Meaning of "in connection with" - Restitution - Test to apply - Principles applicable - Monetary order against agent on joint and several basis - Sufficient connection with contract found unfair - Leave granted - Appeal dismissed, with costs. LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 s 105 s 106 Abboud v The State of New South Wales (Department of School Education) (1999) 92 IR 32 Ashfield Brokers and Consultants Pty Ltd, re Witek (Unreported, Court of Appeal, 72/118, 29 June 1972 Big W Discount Stores v Donato (1997) 58 IR 239 Brown v Rezitis (1970) 127 CLR 157 Custom Credit Corporation Ltd v Goldsmith [1976] AR (NSW) 98 Davies v General Transport Development Pty Ltd [1967] AR (NSW) 371 Drake Personnel Ltd t/as Drake Industrial v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 432 Grace v Baker [1972] AR (NSW) 433 Halim v Fast Food Service Development [1982] AR (NSW) 332 CASES CITED : House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Mace v Murray (1955) 92 CLR 370 Mestrom v Alison Clint Floral Delivery Pty Ltd (No 2) [1971] AR (NSW) 216 Monahan v Gibbons [1981] AR (NSW) 85 Port Macquarie Golf Club Ltd v Stead (1996) 64 IR 53 Smith v Nutshack Franchise Pty Ltd (unreported, Maidment J, CT96/1168, 28 August 1998) Solicitors (State) Award (No 3) (1997) 72 IR 225 Swann v Ultratune Aust Pty Ltd [1983] 5 IR 284 TNT Management Pty Ltd v White [1984] 7 IR 331 Witek v Starr [1971] AR (NSW) 1000 HEARING DATES: 12/07/1999; 12/17/1999 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/25/2000