Citibank Ltd v Liu; ABN Amro Bank NV v Liu [2003] NSWSC 569

Reported Decision : (2004) Aust Contract Reports (Digest) 90-182 (2003) ATPR (Digest) 46-236

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Citibank Ltd v Liu; ABN Amro Bank NV v Liu [2003] NSWSC 569 HEARING DATE(S) : 3 & 4, 8, 10 & 11 October 2002, 10 - 13, & 20 February, 28 March and 29 May 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 25 June 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity JUDGMENT OF : Hamilton J DECISION : Defendant liable for damages on some causes of action for deceptive or misleading conduct under the Fair Trading Act 1987. Judgment for defendant on other causes of action.

CATCHWORDS : EVIDENCE [144] - General principles - Civil proceedings - Evidence Act 1995 s 140 - Serious charge - Fraud - PROCEDURE [112] - Supreme Court procedure - Practice under Supreme Court Rules - Evidence - Other matters - Affidavits - Affidavit allowed to be read although deponent does not attend for cross examination - Weight to be given to evidence - TRADE AND COMMERCE [32] - Trade and commerce generally - Statutes relating to misleading or deceptive conduct in trade - New South Wales - Interpretation - Whether representation made by agent who is employee on behalf of principal also made by employee personally - TRADE AND COMMERCE [136] - Trade practices and related matters - Enforcement and remedies - Actions for damages - Causation - Causal link between contravening conduct and loss - Extent of reliance on conduct. Evidence Act 1995 s 140 LEGISLATION CITED : Fair Trading Act 1987 s 42 Supreme Court Rules 1970 Part 8 r 16 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 53(a) Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v McCaskey (2000) 104 FCR 8 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Clyne v The Law Society of New South Wales NSWCA 4 September 1987 unreported Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594 Derry v Peek (1889) 14 App Cas 337 Fexuto Pty Ltd v Bosnjak Holdings Pty Ltd (1988) 28ACSR 688 Gould v Vaggelas (1985) 157 CLR 215 CASES CITED : Helton v Allen (1940) 63 CLR 691 John G Glass Real Estate Pty Limited v Karawi Constructions Pty Limited (1993) ATPR 41-249 Lam v Ausintel Investments Australia Pty Ltd (1989) 97 FLR 458 Lowe v Indoor Cricket Federation of NSW Inc (1994) ATPR 41-359 Pricom Pty Ltd v Sgarioto (1994) ATPR (Digest) 46-135 Re O'Neill [1972] VR 327 Rejfek v McElroy (1965) 112 CLR 517 Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573 Sibley v Grosvenor (1916) 21 CLR 469 Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661 4660/99 Citibank Limited (P) Chiu Wah Liu (aka Tina Liu) (D1) Casey Wong (aka Kai Chee Wong) (D2) Tatepro (Aust) Exports Pty Limited (D3) Premier Corporation Pty Limited (D4) PARTIES : Strategic Commodities Pty Limited (D5) 4662/99 ABN Amro Bank NV (P) Chiu Wah Liu (aka Tina Liu) (D1) Casey Wong (aka Kai Chee Wong) (D2) Tatepro (Aust) Exports Pty Limited (D3) Premier Corporation Pty Limited (D4) Strategic Commodities Pty Limited (D5) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 4660/99; 4662/99 M A Pembroke SC and T M Faulkner (Ps) COUNSEL : S L Bell (D2) No other appearances Mallesons Stephen Jaques (Ps) SOLICITORS : Ian B Mitchell (D2) No other appearances