United Realty Co Pty Ltd v BSP & GS Property Group Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 419

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : United Realty Co Pty Ltd v BSP & GS Property Group Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 419 HEARING DATE(S) : 6/02/03, 7/02/03, 12/02/03, 19/05/03, 20/05/03, 21/05/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 19 June 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J DECISION : Injunction restraining use of the name "United Real Estate" in south and south-west Sydney granted.

CATCHWORDS : TRADE PRACTICES - Consumer Protection - Franchised real estate agents trading as "United Realty" - New franchise chain trading as "United Real Estate" - Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 52(1) - What is the relevant section of the public by reference to whom the question whether the conduct is misleading or deceptive is to be tested? - EVIDENCE - Burden of Proof, Presumptions and Weight and Sufficiency of Evidence - Intention put in issue in course of trial - Corroborrative evidence not called - Intention not an element of a claim under s 52(1) - Whether adverse inference should be drawn LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Nuhic v Rail & Road Excavations [1972] 1 NSWLR 204 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Ltd (2000) 200 CLR 121 Brown v Jam Factory Pty Ltd (1981) 53 FLR 340 Equity Access Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1989) 16 IPR 431 The Thai Silk Co Ltd v Aser Nominees Pty Ltd (1991) 13 ATPR 41-146 CASES CITED : Cubillo v Commonwealth (2000) 103 FCR 1 Cafe v Australian Portland Cement Pty Ltd (1965) 83 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 280 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1981-1982) 149 CLR 191 B M Auto Sales Pty Ltd v Budget Rent A Car System Pty Ltd (1977) 51 ALJR 254 Taco Company of Australia Inc v Taco Bell Pty Ltd (1982) 42 ALR 177 Tobacco Institute of Australia Ltd v Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations Inc (1992) 38 FCR 1 Baxter v British Airways Plc (1988) 82 ALR 298 Burica Pty Ltd v Tops to Bottoms (Australia) Pty Ltd (1997) 59 IPR 447 United Realty Co Pty Ltd - 1st Plaintiff PARTIES : Bobb Borg Partners Pty Ltd t/as United Realty Liverpool - 2nd Plaintiff BSP & GS Property Group Pty Ltd Trading as United Real Estate - 1st Defendant K S Gill Property Group Pty Ltd t/as United Real Estate - 2nd Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 5954/02 COUNSEL : P Beale - For Plaintiffs A S Howen - For Defendants SOLICITORS : McGrath, Dicembre & Co Solicitors & Barristers Ward Maxwell & Co Solicitors