Fatimi Pty Ltd v Bryant & 2 Ors [2004] NSWCA 140

Reported Decision : 59 NSWLR 678 (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-746

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Fatimi Pty Ltd v Bryant & 2 Ors [2004] NSWCA 140 HEARING DATE(S) : 28/10/2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 6 May 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Handley JA at 1; Giles JA at 43; McColl JA at 83 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : CONSPIRACY - to injure by unlawful means - conspiracy must be aimed or directed at plaintiff - no need to prove dominant purpose of injuring plaintiff - purpose of protecting or advancing interests of conspirators no defence - CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY - conspiracy to defraud - dishonest means - requirement that victim have civil remedy - need for congruence with tort of conspiracy to injure by unlawful means - DAMAGES - exemplary - tort actionable only on proof of damage - exemplary damages not available where compensatory damages not proved and tort not established - D Conveyancing Act 1919, s 37A LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Law, ss 471B, 570, 596 Crimes Act 1900, s 319 A v Bottrill (2003) 1 AC 449 Adams v The Queen [1995] 1 WLR 52 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (No 2) (2003) 57 NSWLR 338 Brandy v Flamboyant Investment Company Ltd 772 F Supp 1538 (1991) Carey v After The Gold Rush 715 P 2d 803 (1986) Cash & Carry Cleaners Ltd v Delmas (1973) 44 DLR (3d) 315 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome (1972) AC 1027 Coomera Resort Pty Ltd v Kolback Securities Ltd [2004] 1 Qd R 1 Cousins v Wilson (1994) 1 NZLR 463 Donsellar v Donsellar (1982) 1 NZLR 97 Guaranty Trust Co of Canada v Public Trustee (1978) 87 DLR (3d) 417 Harris v Digital Pulse Pty Ltd (2003) 56 NSWLR 298 Johnston Terminals & Storage Ltd v Miscellaneous Workers, Wholesale and Retail Delivery Drivers & Helpers Local Union (1995) 61 DLR (3d) 741 Kirkbride v Lisbon Contractors Ltd 521 Pa 97 (1989) Lonrho Ltd v Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (No 2) [1982] AC 173 Lonrho Plc v Fayed (No 5) (1993) 1 WLR 1489 CASES CITED : Lonrho Plc v Fayed [1992] 1 AC 448 Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638 McLaren Transport Ltd v Somerville (1996) 3 NZLR 424 McWilliam v Penthouse Publication Ltd [2001] NSWCA 237 Michaels v Taylor Woodrow Developments Ltd [2001] Ch 493 Peters v The Queen (1998) 192 CLR 493 The Queen v Warburton (1870) LR 1 CCR 274 Quinn v Leatham (1901) AC 495 R v Governor of Pentonville Prison Ex parte Tarling (1978) 70 Crim App R 77 R v Weaver (1931) 45 CLR 321 Rhoads v Heberling 306 Pa Super 35 (1982) Vorvis v Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (1989) 58 DLR (4th) 193 White v Hansen 813 813 P 2d 750 (1991) White v Moses Taylor Hospital 763 F Supp 776 (1991) Williams v Hursey (1959) 103 CLR 30 Williams v Hursey (1959) 103 CLR 30 XL Petroleum (NSW) Pty Ltd v Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd (1985) 155 CLR 448 Fatimi Pty Ltd (Appellant) PARTIES : Elizabeth Charlotte Bryant (First Respondent) Richard Michael Bryant (Second Respondent) Richard Joseph Bryant (Third Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40942/02 COUNSEL : M Aldridge SC/M Evans (Appellant) F Kunc/M Henry (Respondents) SOLICITORS : John Cunningham (Appellant) John Sheehy (Respondents)