Hunter Business Finance v Australian Business and Equipment Finance and Ors [2003] NSWSC 122

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Hunter Business Finance v Australian Business and Equipment Finance and Ors [2003] NSWSC 122 HEARING DATE(S) : 17/02/03,18/02/03,19/02/03,20/02/03,21/02/03,25/02/03,26/02/03,28/02/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 19 March 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J DECISION : Order that enquiries as to damages for breach of contract by plaintiff and defendants be held before a Master

CATCHWORDS : EQUITY - Equitable Doctrines and Presumptions - Whether relief against abuse of confidential information should be granted when a contractual term exists - Whether commission-only agents owe fiduciary obligations to principal - Whether it is appropriate to order an account in aide of common law rights - CONTRACTS - General Contractual Principles - Implied terms - Breach of contract - PROCEDURE - Miscellaneous procedural matters - Enquiry as to damages for breach of contract before a Master Consumer Credit Act 1995 Consumer Credit Code Fair Trading Act 1987 LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth) CH Magill v National Australia Bank Ltd [2001] Aust Contract Reports 91,601 Sportsvision Australia Pty Ltd v Tallglen Pty Ltd (1998) 44 NSWLR 103 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 Codelfa Constructions pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337 Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 Hawkins v Clayton (1987-1988) 164 CLR 539 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Spira [2002] NSWSC 905 Breen v Williams (1995-1996) 186 CLR 71 Securities and Exchange Commission v Chenery Corporation 318 US 80 (1942) at 85 Maguire v Makaronis (1996-1997) 188 CLR 449 Beach Petroleum NL v Kennedy (1999) 48 NSWLR 1 Moorgate Tobacco Co Ltd v Philips Morris Ltd (No. 2) (1984) 156 CLR 414 Vokes Ltd v Heather (1945) 62 RPC 135 CASES CITED : Faccenda Chicken Ltd v Fowler [1987] Ch 117 Deta Nominees Pty Ltd v Viscount Plastic Products Pty Ltd [1979] VR 167 Coco v AN Clark (Engineers) Ltd [1969] RPC 41 at 47-48 Corrs Pavey Whiting & Byrne v Collector of Customs (Vic) (1987) 14 FCR 434 Zeus Chemical Products Pty Ltd v Jaybee Design & Marketing Pty Ltd (1998) 41 IPR 491 Wright v Gasweld Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 317 Forkserve Pty Ltd v Pacchiarotta (2001) 50 IPR 74 at 78 Winterton Constructions Pty Ltd v Hambro Australia Ltd (1992) 39 FCR 97 Barnes v Addy (1874) 9 Ch App 244 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 110 ALR 449 Commissioner for Corporate Affairs v Bracht [1989] VR 821 Re HIH Insurance; Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Adler (2002) 41 ACSR 72 Meagher, Heydon, Leeming, "Equity: Doctrines and Remedies" 4th ed Lexis Nexis Butterworths, Australia, 2002, par 25-020 Hunter Business Finance Pty Limited - Plaintiff Australian Commerical & Equipment Finance Pty Limited - 1st Defendant Garry Francis Ennis - 3rd Defendant PARTIES : David John Flanagan - 4th Defendant Errol Sky - 5th Defendant Belfolex Pty Ltd - 6th Defendant Optimal Finance Pty Ltd - 7th Defendant Egras Pty Limited - 8th Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 5022/00 COUNSEL : Mr C J Stevens QC/ Mr R K Eassie for the Plaintiff Mr D J Fagan SC/ Mr H Stowe for the Defendants SOLICITORS : Sparke Helmore Solicitors Mason Lawyers