Mindshare Communications Ltd v Orleans Investments Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1352

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Mindshare Communications Ltd v Orleans Investments Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1352 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 20 – 23 & 31 August, 5 & 16 October and 14 November 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 27 November 2007

JURISDICTION : Equity

JUDGMENT OF : Hamilton J

DECISION : Plaintiff granted permanent injunctive relief to restrain breaches of contract.

CATCHWORDS : CONTRACTS [120] - General contractual principles - Construction and interpretation of contracts - Other matters - Admissibility of extrinsic evidence - Parol evidence rule - Ambiguity exception - Ambit of proscriptions of derogatory statements concerning parties to deed - TRADE AND COMMERCE [82] – Trade practices and related matters – Consumer protection – Misleading, deceptive or unconscionable conduct – Character and attributes of conduct – Reliance – Onus – Where reliance not established – Weight to be placed on assertions of reliance.

Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 46 - 50 LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Law s 50 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 80, 87 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 r 14.7

Brooks v NSW Grains Board [2000] NSWSC 1049 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1982) 149 CLR 337 Dominelli Ford (Hurstville) Pty Ltd v Karmot Auto Spares Pty Ltd (1992) 38 FCR 471 Gould v Vaggelas (1985) 157 CLR 215 Hanave v LFOT Pty Ltd (1999) 43 IPR 545 Lam v Ausintel Investments Australia Pty Ltd (1989) 97 FLR 458 LMI Australasia Pty Ltd v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 74 McRae v Commonwealth Disposals Commission (1950) 84 CLR 377 Prenn v Simmonds [1971] 1 WLR 1381 Progressive Mailing House Pty Ltd v Tabali Pty Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 17 CASES CITED : Reardon Smith Line Ltd v Yngvar Hansen-Tangen [1976] 1 WLR 989 Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust v South Sydney City Council (2002) 76 ALJR 436 Shevill v Builders Licensing Board (1982) 149 CLR 620 Smith v Chadwick (1882) 20 Ch D 27 Smith v Chadwick (1884) 9 App Cas 187 Toll (FGCT) Pty Limited v Alphapharm Pty Limited (2004) 219 CLR 165 Carter, Breach of Contract (2nd ed, 1991) Ch 2 Carter, Peden and Tolhurst, Contract Law in Australia (5th ed, 2007) [28-01], [28-12], [28-13], [29-13] ff J W Carter & Stewart, "Interpretation, Good Faith, and the 'True Meaning' of Contracts" (2002) 18 Journal of Contract Law 182 Lewison, The Interpretation of Contracts (2nd ed, 1997) [5.12] Macquarie Dictionary (rev 3rd ed, 2001)