Overlook v Foxtel [2002] NSWSC 17

Reported Decision : (2002) Aust Contract Reports 90-143 (2002) ATPR (Digest) 46-219

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Overlook v Foxtel [2002] NSWSC 17 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50165/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 17/09/01; 18/09/01; 19/09/01; 20/09/01; 21/09/01; 24/09/01; 25/09/01; 26/09/01; 27/09/01; 28/09/01; 02/10/01; 03/10/01; 01/11/01; 02/11/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 31 January 2002

PARTIES : Overlook Management BV - Plaintiff Foxtel Management Pty Ltd - Defendant JUDGMENT OF : Barrett J

COUNSEL : Mr A.J.L. Bannon SC/Mr S.J. Stanton - Plaintiff Mr A. Leopold - Defendant SOLICITORS : Aitken McLachlan & Thorpe - Plaintiff Allens Arthur Robinson - Defendant CATCHWORDS : CONTRACT - implied terms - caution required in finding that business efficacy makes term necessary - CONTRACT - terms implied by law - implied term requiring exercise of good faith in performance of contract - content and meaning of such implied term - ESTOPPEL - equitable estoppel - assertion of estoppel in face of written contract - TRADE PRACTICES - unconscionable conduct - calculation of "price" limit applicable to s.51AC - hallmarks of unconscionability - TRADE PRACTICES - misleading or deceptive conduct - whether statement by one party that it appreciates other's position imports duty to preserve that position - actionable representation versus mere puff - causal link broken where plaintiff relies on own independent and informed assessment. LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Alcatel Australia Ltd v Scarcella (1998) 44 NSWLR 349 Alpine Hardwood (Aust) Pty Ltd v Hardys Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1876 Austotel Pty Ltd v Franklins Selfserve Pty Ltd (1989) 16 NSWLR 582 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Simply No-Knead (Franchising) Pty Ltd (2000) 104 FCR 253 Australian Co-operative Foods Ltd v Norco Co-operative Ltd (1999) 46 NSWLR 267 Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd v G R Securities Pty Ltd (1986) 5 BPR 9315 Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council [2001] NSWCA 61 Burger King Corporation v Hungry Jack's Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 187 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 C G Mal Pty Ltd v Sanyo Office Machines Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 445 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (1982) 149 CLR 337 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447 Culley & Russell Pty Ltd v Goyder [2001] WASCA 27 Drambo Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1996) 96 ATC 4737 Far Horizons Pty Ltd v McDonald's Australia Pty Ltd [2000] VSC 310 Henville v Walker (2001) 75 ALJR 1410 CASES CITED : Hughes Bros Pty Ltd v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Archdiocese of Sydney (1993) 31 NSWLR 91 Hurley v McDonald's Australia Ltd [1999] FCA 465 Hurley v McDonald's Australia Ltd (2000) ATPR 41-471 Johnson Matthey Ltd v A C Rochester Overseas Corporation (1990) 23 NSWLR 190 Manifest Shipping Co Ltd v Uni-Polaris Shipping Co Ltd [2001] 2 WLR 170 Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 Monroe Topple & Associates Pty Ltd v Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia [2001] FCA 1056 Narni Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd [2001] VSCA 31 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 191 Peters (WA) Ltd v Petersville Ltd (2001) 75 ALJR 1385 Renard Constructions (ME) Pty Ltd v Minister for Public Works (1992) 26 NSWLR 234 Roxborough v Rothmans of Pall Mall Australia Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 68 Schindler Lifts Australia Pty Ltd v Debelak (1989) 89 ALR 275 Skywest Aviation Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1995) 126 FLR 61 State Bank of New South Wales v Currabubula Holdings Pty Ltd (2001) 51 NSWLR 399 Strate Rail Authority of New South Wales v Heath Outdoor Pty Ltd (1986) 7 NSWLR 170 Tymshare Inc v Covell 727 F2d 1145 (1984) Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 DECISION : Dismissed with costs