Darc Rasmussen v Eltrax Systems Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 307

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Darc Rasmussen v Eltrax Systems Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 307 APPLICANT Darc Rasmussen

FIRST RESPONDENT Eltrax Systems Pty Ltd (Formerly Sulcus (Australia) Pty Ltd)

SECOND RESPONDENT Christopher Ian Gribble PARTIES : THIRD RESPONDENT Jo-Ann Schlein

FOURTH RESPONDENT John Picardi

FIFTH RESPONDENT Verso Technologies Inc. (Formerly Eltrax Systems Inc.) FILE NUMBER: IRC 4276 of 2001 CORAM: Boland J Unfair contract - Interlocutory proceedings - Notice of motion - Applicant seeking leave to file amended summons for relief under s 106 of Industrial Relations Act 1996 and leave to serve summons for relief and amended summons for relief on Fifth respondent - No appearance by Fifth respondent and no notice of motion filed by Fifth respondent pursuant to r82(1) of Industrial Relations Commission Rules 1996 - Submissions opposing leave to serve Fifth respondent put by first to fourth respondents - Minor amendments only to summons - No prejudice to respondents - Leave granted to file amended summons - Lengthy delay in serving Fifth respondent - Whether applicant estopped from seeking leave to now serve Fifth respondent - Whether adequate reason for lengthy delay - Fifth respondent a foreign corporation - Whether contract in and of New South Wales - Whether contract is one whereby work is performed in any industry - Whether any judgment entered against Fifth respondent would be enforceable - Leave granted to serve summonses on Fifth respondent CATCHWORDS : Practice and procedure - Unfair contract - Interlocutory proceedings - Notice of motion - Applicant seeking leave to file amended summons for relief under s 106 of Industrial Relations Act 1996 and leave to serve summons for relief and amended summons for relief on Fifth respondent - No appearance by Fifth respondent and no notice of motion filed by Fifth respondent pursuant to r82(1) of Industrial Relations Commission Rules 1996 - Submissions opposing leave to serve Fifth respondent put by first to fourth respondents - Minor amendments only to summons - No prejudice to respondents - Leave granted to file amended summons - Lengthy delay in serving Fifth respondent - Whether applicant estopped from seeking leave to now serve Fifth respondent - Whether adequate reason for lengthy delay - Fifth respondent a foreign corporation - Whether contract in and of New South Wales - Whether contract is one whereby work is performed in any industry - Whether any judgment entered against Fifth respondent would be enforceable - Leave granted to serve summonses on Fifth respondent Foreign Judgments Act 1973 (Cth) Foreign Judgments Regulations 1992 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Industrial Relations Commission Rules 1996 r 82 r 88 r 108 Supreme Court Rules 1970 r 7(1) Bell v Macquarie Bank (No 4) (1999) 93 IR 191 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541 Chrysler Jeep v Canberra Star Motors (1997) 79 IR 452 Clough & Rogers v Frog (1974) 4 ALR 615 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Mehta (1991) 23 NSWLR 84 Darc Rasmussen v Eltrax Systems Pty Ltd (Formerly Sulcus (Australia) Pty Ltd) and others [2003] NSWIRComm 157 Delaney v Fujian Pacific Pty Ltd [1999] NSWIRComm 56 Franklin House v ANI Corporation (unreported, SCNSW, Windeyer J, 7 November 1994) Gough & Gilmour v Caterpillar Australia (No 5) [2001] NSWIRComm 112 CASES CITED : Harding v Bourke (2000) 48 NSWLR 598 Mayne Nickless Ltd v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW & Ors [2004] NSWCA 359 McRann v UnitedGlobalcom Inc and ors [2003] NSWIRComm 131 Mitchforce v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW (2003) 57 NSWLR 212 Reich v Client Server Professionals of Australia Pty Limited (2000) 49 NSWLR 551 Solution 6 Holdings Limited & Ors v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW & Ors [2004] NSWCA 200 Solution 6 Holdings v IRC of NSW [2004] NSWCA 200 Sydney Water Corporation Ltd & Anor v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW & Ors (CA 40666/04) Verso Technologies Inc (formerly Eltrax Systems Inc) v Rasmussen and Ors (No 2) [2004] NSWIRComm 234 Verso Technologies Inc. (formerly Eltrax Systems Inc) v Rasmussen [2004 NSWIRComm 90 Western Sydney Area Health Service v Gibson (2001) 109 IR 359 HEARING DATES: 09/22/2004 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 10/15/2004