ADC v WHITE [2001] NSWCA 9

Reported Decision : 54 IPR 515

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : ADC v WHITE [2001] NSWCA 9 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40511/99; 40101/96 consolidated HEARING DATE(S) : 5-8 June 2000 inclusive JUDGMENT DATE : 9 February 2001

AUSTRALIAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PTY LTD v WHITE CONSTRUCTIONS LIMITED & ANOR PARTIES : AUSTRALIAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PTY LTD v WHITE CONSTRUCTIONS (ACT) PTY LTD (in liq) & ANOR JUDGMENT OF : Handley JA at 1; Sheller JA at 122; Stein JA at 123

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Common Law Division LOWER COURT CommD 55041/91 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Giles CJCommD JUDICIAL OFFICER :

D F Jackson QC/S A Kerr (Appellant ADC) COUNSEL : B W Rayment QC/S Goldstein/G R Kennett (Respondent 1 - White Const Ltd) A Archibald QC/M A Ashurst (Respondent 1 White Const ACT in liq) B W Rayment QC/S Goldstein/G R Kennett (Respondent 2 Exxon Coal - formerly White Indus) Colin Biggers & Paisley (Appellant) SOLICITORS : Mallesons Stephen Jaques (Respondents 1 and 2 White Const 40101/96 and Exxon 40511/99) Deacon Graham & James (Respondent 1 White Const ACT in liq 40511/99) CATCHWORDS : INDUCEMENT OF BREACH OF CONTRACT - proof of intention to induce breach - NEGLIGENT MISREPRESENTATION - effect of non disclosure - TRADE PRACTICES - misleading and deceptive conduct - causation - VICARIOUS LIABILITY - employees appointed directors of other company LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Crowley v Glissan (1905) 2 CLR 402 Bunning v Cross (1978) 141 CLR 54 Siu Win Kwan v Eastern Insurance Co Ltd [1994] 2 AC 199 Andrews v Nominal Defendant (1968) 70 SR (NSW) 419 Hexyl Pty Ltd v Construction Engineering (Australia) Pty Ltd (21/6/84 unrep) Construction Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd v Hexyl Pty Ltd (1985) 155 CLR 541 Petersen v Moloney (1951) 84 CLR 91 March v Stramere (E & MH) Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 494 Gates v City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (1986) 160 CLR 1 Demagogue Pty Ltd v Ramensky (1992) 39 FCR 31 Banque Keyser Ullmann SA v Westgate Insurance Co Ltd [1991] 2 AC 249 Said v Butt [1920] 3 KB 497 O'Brien v Dawson (1941) 41 SR (NSW) 295 CASES CITED: Kuwait Asia Bank EC v National Mutual Life Nominees Ltd [1991] 1 AC 187 Dairy Containers Ltd v Auditor-General [1995] 2 NZLR 30 New Zealand Guardian Trust Co Ltd v Brooks [1995] 1 WLR 96 PC Zuijs v Wirth Bros Pty Limited (1955) 93 CLR 561 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16 Century Insurance Company Limited v Northern Ireland Road Transport Board [1942] AC 509 Mersey Docks & Harbour Board v Coggins & Griffith (Liverpool) Ltd [1947] AC 1 Camden Nominees Ltd v Forcey [1940] Ch 352 Quinn v Leathem [1901] AC 495 Lumley v Gye (1863) 2 E & B 216 D C Thomson & Co Ltd v Deakin [1952] Ch 646 All State Life Insurance Company v ANZ Banking Group (1995) 58 FCR 26 Fightvision Pty Limited v Onisforou (1999) 47 NSWLR 473 Torquay Hotel Co Ltd v Cousins [1969] 2 Ch 106 Short v City Bank of Sydney (1912) 15 CLR 148 Akerheilm v De Mare [1959] AC 789 Smith New Court Securities Ltd v Scrimgeour Vickers (Asset Management) Ltd [1997] AC 254 DECISION : Appeals dismissed with costs. Cross-appeal dismissed with costs.