Idameneo P/L v Ticco P/L & 1 Ors [2004] NSWCA 329

Reported Decision : (2004) ATPR (Digest) 46-257

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Idameneo P/L v Ticco P/L & 1 Ors [2004] NSWCA 329 HEARING DATE(S) : 18 August 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 17 September 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Hodgson JA at 2; Santow JA at 9 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : CONTRACT - contractual interpretation of trade restraint clause in protection of goodwill on sale of a "business" to the appellant of respondent's medical practice. Whether vendor in breach of relevant contracts - whether vendor's breach amounted to a repudiation - purchaser instead of accepting alleged vendor repudiation continued to benefit from performance by vendor yet then withheld payment for his services - whether if the purchaser was then in breach that breach was absolved by vendor's prior breach and repudiation if such it were - whether that breach by the purchaser amounted to repudiation - whether when vendor then terminated invoking clause permitting purchaser to terminate on vendor's breach vendor entitled to do so if vendor earlier had repudiated - principles applicable - alternative basis in estoppel - need for nexus between any prior breach by vendor and subsequent breach by purchaser - no such nexus here. LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act s87 Austral Standard Cable Pty Ltd v Walker Nominees Pty Ltd (1992) 26 NSWLR 524 Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd v Collins & Anor (1995) 31 IPR 488 Brothers v Park & Anor [2004] NSWCA 241 CASES CITED : Foran v Wight (1989) 168 CLR 358 Morris v Baron & Co [1918] AC 1(HL) Pioneer Concrete Services Ltd v Galli [1985] VR 675 Peter Turnbull & Co Pty Ltd v Mundus Trading Co (Australasia) Pty Ltd (1954) 90 CLR 235 IDAMENEO (No. 123) PTY LIMITED (ACN 002 968 185) (Appellant) PARTIES : TICO PTY LIMITED (ACN 073 411 506) (First Respondent) IAN LESTER ORGAN-RAFTER (Second Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40606/03 COUNSEL : G K BURTON (Appellant) B RAYMENT, QC/ R EVANS (Respondents) SOLICITORS : Abbott Tout (Appellant) McKell's Solicitors (Respondents)