TOYOTA FINANCE AUSTRALIA LTD v DENNIS & ORS; TEKITU PTY LTD v DENNIS & ANOR [2002] NSWCA 369

Reported Decision : 58 NSWLR 101

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : TOYOTA FINANCE AUSTRALIA LTD v DENNIS & ORS; TEKITU PTY LTD v DENNIS & ANOR [2002] NSWCA 369 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40807/00; 40809/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 14 March 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 19 November 2002

Toyota Finance Australia Ltd Tekitu Pty Ltd PARTIES : Noelene Dennis Paul Toweel Petzat Pty Ltd JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Handley JA at 2; Sheller JA at 95

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT 33/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Delaney DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

J T Gleeson SC/J Stoljar (Toyota) COUNSEL : M L D Einfeld QC/S Rouben (Tekitu) C J Stevens QC/A Porthouse (Dennis) Clayton Utz (Toyota) SOLICITORS : Neil O'Connor & Associates (Tekitu) Herbert Weller (Dennis) CATCHWORDS : TORT - recaption of chattel - hire purchase agreement - repossession of vehicle - assault - reasonable force - VICARIOUS LIABILITY - collection of arrears - recaption of chattel - independent contractors - no authorisation to assault Consumer Credit (NSW) Act 1995 Consumer Credit Code Commercial Agents and Private Inquiry Agents Act 1963 LEGISLATION CITED : Hire Purchase Act 1960 (NSW) Tasmanian Criminal Code Queensland Criminal Code Western Australia Criminal Code Abbott v New South Wales Mont de Piete Company (1904) 4 SR (NSW) 336 Blades v Higgs (1861) 10 CB (NS) 713; 142 ER 634 Cantberbury Bankstown Rugby League Football Club Ltd v Rogers (1993) Aust Tort Reports 81-246 Chambers v Miller (1862) 13 CB NS 125; 143 ER 50 Clement v Jones (1909) 8 CLR 133 Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd v Producers and Citizens Co-operative Assurance Company of Australia Ltd (1931) 46 CLR 41 De Lambert v Ongley [1924] NZLR 430 Devoe v Long & Long [1951] 1 DLR 203 Dyer v Munday [1895] 1 QB 742 Fitzgerald v Kellion Estates Pty Ltd (1977) 2 BPR 9181 Harvey v Brydges (1845) 14 M&W 442; 153 ER 546 Hemmings v Stoke Poges Golf Club [1920] 1 KB 720 Hollis v Vabu Pty Ltd (1999) Aust Torts Rep 81-535 Hollis v Vabu Pty Ltd (2001) 207 CLR 21 Housing Commission of NSW v Allen (1967) 69 SR (NSW) 190 Hyde v Graham (1862) 1 H&C 593; 158 ER 1020 Jones v Chapman (1849) 2 Ex 803; 154 ER 717 CASES CITED: Lee v Atkinson (1609) Yelverton 172; 80 ER 114 Lows v Telford (1876) 1 App Cas 414 Macintosh v Lobel (1993) 30 NSWLR 441 Mackay v Dick (1881) 6 App Cas 251 Mutual Life and Citizens Assurance Co Ltd v Evatt [1971] AC 793 Newton v Harland (1840) 1 Man & G 644; 133 ER 490 NMFM Property Pty Ltd v Citibank Ltd (No 10) [2000] FCA 1558 O'Connor v Isaacs [1956] 2 QB 288 Ramsay v Margrett [1894] 2 QB 18 R v Doucette [1960 25 DLR (2d) 380 R v Mitton (1827) 3 C&P 30; 172 ER 309 Scott v Davis (2000) 204 CLR 333 Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 596 Stoneman v Lyons (1975) 133 CLR 550 Swan v Rawsthorne (1908) 5 CLR 765 Torette House Pty Ltd v Berkman (1939) 39 SR (NSW) 156 Wickham v Rice (1887) 4 WN (NSW) 9 Ziade v NSW Ministerial Insurance Corp (CA 25 March 1993, unreported) Zimmler v Manning (1863) 2 SCR (NSW) 235 DECISION : 1 Leave granted to Toyota, Tekitu, Mr Toweel and Petzat to appeal subject to the filing of notices of appeal within 14 days; 2 Leave to Mrs Dennis to cross-appeal refused with costs; 3 Appeals by Toyota and Tekitu allowed with costs; 4 Set aside the judgments in the District Court against Toyota and Tekitu and in lieu thereof order that judgments be entered in their favour with costs; 5 Appeals by Mr Toweel and Petzat dismissed with costs; 6 Mrs Dennis to have certificates under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 in respect of the costs of the appeals by Toyota and Tekitu.