Yates v Whitlam [1999] NSWSC 976

[1999] 32 ACSR 595 Reported Decision : [2000] 18 ACLC 55 [1999] ATPR 41-722

New South Wales Supreme Court CITATION : Yates v Whitlam [1999] NSWSC 976 CURRENT JURISDICTION : Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : 3916 of 1999 HEARING DATE(S) : 21 September 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 23 September 1999

Ian Francis Yates (Plaintiff) Nicholas Whitlam (First Defendant) Timothy Shaw (Second Defendant) Alex Sanchez (Third Defendant) PARTIES : Anne Keating (Fourth Defendant) Stewart Gleeson (Fifth Defendant) Mark Coyne (Sixth Defendant) Dominique Collins (Seventh Defendant) Maree Callaghan (Eighth Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Windeyer J at 1

COUNSEL : Mr. W.G. Muddle (Plaintiff) Mr. R.A. Conti Q.C. with him Mr. D.B. Studdy (Defendants) SOLICITORS : The Bruce & Stewart Commercial Practice (Plaintiff) Gilbert & Tobin (Defendants) CATCHWORDS : TRADE PRACTICES - Fair Trading Act - misleading and deceptive conduct in trade and commerce - statements made in election campaign; CORPORATIONS LAW - s995(2) and 1025(3) - whether advertisement in election campaign referring to future entitlements to shares is breach of sections Corporations Law, ss 995(2), 1025(3), 1324 ACTS CITED : Fair Trading Act, 1987 ss 41, 41(2), 42, 65, Trade Practices Act 1974, s 80, Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Limited v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594 Foss v Harbottle {1843} 2 HAR 461 CASES CITED : NRMA Limited v Yates {1999} NSWSC 859 Plimer v Robertson (1997) 89 FCR 302 Stewart Alexander & Co (Interstate) Pty Ltd v Blinders Pty Ltd (1981) 53 FLR 307 DECISION : Summons dismissed with costs