Optus Vision Pty Limited v Australian Rugby Football League Limited & Ors [2003] NSWSC 288

Reported Decision : (2003) Aust Contract Reports 90-163

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Optus Vision Pty Limited v Australian Rugby Football League Limited & Ors [2003] NSWSC 288 HEARING DATE(S) : 08/04/03, 09/04/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 16 April 2003

JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List JUDGMENT OF : Einstein J DECISION : Proceedings to be dismissed.

CATCHWORDS : Contract - Construction - Consideration of principles permitting Court to take into account more than internal linguistic considerations and to consider the circumstances with reference to which the words were used and from those circumstances, to discern the objective which the parties had in view - Consideration of principles as to admissibility of evidence to identify subject matter of an expression used in an agreement - Best endeavours clauses - Onus of proof of damages LEGISLATION CITED : Partnership Act 1892 (NSW) Aerial Taxi Cabs Co-operative Society Limited v Lee (2000) 178 ALR 73 Bank of New Zealand v Simpson [1900] AC 182 Best & Less Pty Limited v Divergent Technologies Pty Limited [2002] FCA 43 CCOM Pty Limited v J Jeijing Pty Limited (1992) 36 FCR 524 Codelfa Constructions Pty Limited v State Rail Authority (1982) 149 CLR 337 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v K Porter & Co Pty Limited (1974) 2 ALR 530 G.R. Securities Pty Limited v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Limited (1986) 40 NSWLR 631 Hospital Products Limited v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 Investors Compensation Scheme [1998] 1 WLR 896 JLW v Tsiloglou [1994] 1 VR 237 Lakatoi Universal Pty Ltd v LA Walker [2000] NSWSC 113 L Schuler AG v Wickman Machine Tool Sales Ltd [1974] AC 235 Luna Park (NSW) Limited v Tramways Advertising Pty Limited (1938) 61 CLR 286 MacDonald v Longbottom (1859) 1 E & E 977 Maggbury Pty Limited v Hafele Australia Pty Limited (2001) 76 ALJR 246 Newark Engineering (N.Z.) Ltd v Jenkin (1980) 1 N.Z.L.R. 504 News Ltd v Australian Rugby Football League Ltd (1996) 139 ALR 193 CASES CITED : Penvidic Contracting Ltd v International Nickel Co of Canada Ltd [1976] 1 SCR 267 Phillips Petroleum Co United Kingdom Limited v Enron Europe Limited (1997) CCH CLC 329 Placer (Granny Smith) Pty Ltd v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd [2003] HCA 10 Prenn v Simmonds [1971] 1 WLR 1381, [1971] 3 All ER 237 Ratcliffe v Evans [1892] 2 Q.B. 524 Reardon Smith Line Ltd v Yngvar Hansen-Tangen [1976] 1 WLR 989, [1976] 3 All ER 570 Re George & The Goldsmiths & General Burglary Insurance Association Limited (1899) 1 QB 595 Re Sassoon (1933) 1 Ch 858 Rosser v Marine Ministerial Holding Corporation [1999] NSWCA 72 Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust v South Sydney City Council (2002) 186 ALR 289 State Bank of New South Wales Limited v Chia (2001) 50 NSWLR 587 St George Commercial Credit Corporation Limited v Collins Wallis Properties Pty Limited & Ors [1998] NSWSC 649 Syntex Australia & Anor v Ray Teese P/L [1996] QCA 259 Ted Brown Quarries Pty Ltd v. General Quarries (Gilston) Pty Ltd (1977) 16 A.L.R. 23 The Commonwealth v. Amann Aviation Pty. Ltd (1992) 174 CLR 64 The Karen Oltmann [1976] 2 Lloyds Reports 708 Transfield Pty Ltd v Arlo International Ltd (1980) 144 CLR 83 Wood v Grand Valley Railway Co (1915) 51 SCR 283 Optus Vision Pty Limited (Plaintiff) Australian Rugby Football League Ltd (First Defendant) St George Illawarra Rugby League Football Club Limited (Third Defendant) PARTIES : Wests Tigers Rugby League Football Club Pty Limited (Fourth Defendant) Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Limited (Fifth Defendant) Newcastle Knights Limited (Sixth Defendant) Parramatta District Rugby League Club Limited (Seventh Defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50170/01 Mr I Jackman SC (Plaintiff) COUNSEL : Mr A Sullivan QC, Mr A Bell (First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Defendants) No appearance for the Second Defendant Baker & McKenzie (Plaintiff) SOLICITORS : Blake Dawson Waldron (First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Defendants) No appearance for the Second Defendant