Chint Australasia Pty Limited v Cosmoluce Pty Limited [2008] NSWSC 635

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Chint Australasia Pty Limited v Cosmoluce Pty Limited [2008] NSWSC 635

HEARING DATE(S) : 16/05/08 - 20/05/08

JUDGMENT DATE : 27 June 2008

JURISDICTION : Equity Division Commercial List

JUDGMENT OF : Einstein J

DECISION : Short minutes of order to be brought in.

CATCHWORDS : CONTRACT - Breach - Loss of bargain damages - ENTITLEMENT TO TERMINATE - Waiver - Breach consists of failure to comply with a time provision - Contract requires notice unless the breach is 'not capable of being remedied' - Breach capable of remedy - No election to affirm may occur before the right to terminate arises - Repudiation - Breach of non-essential term not causative of the breach of the opposite party does not prevent termination - MISREPRESENTATION - Contravention of the Trade Practices Act - Words must be proved with a degree of precision - Circumstances that may render the conduct misleading - Held that representations did not occur and/or were not misleading and deceptive - Reliance not established - No entitlement to rescind - Same considerations apply as per rescission in equity - Estoppel excluded by entire agreement clause - Rule Jones v Dunkel

LEGISLATION CITED : Trade Practices Act (1974) (Cth)

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Ajit v Sammy [1967] 1 AC 255 Adler v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2003] NSWCA 131 Akron Securities Ltd v Iliffe (1997) 41 NSWLR 353 Alati v Kruger (1955) 94 CLR 216 Aneve Pty Limited v Bank of Western Australia Ltd [2005] NSWCA 441 Arnot v Hill-Douglas [2006] NSWSC 429 Australian Co-operative Foods Ltd v Norco Co-operative Ltd (1999) 46 NSWLR 267 Australian Steel & Mining Corporation Pty Limited v Corben [1974] 2 NSWLR 202 Australis Media Holdings Pty Limited v Telstra Corporation Limited (1998) 43 NSWLR 104 Balog v Crestani [1975] HCA 16; (1975) 132 CLR 289 Bank of New Zealand v Spedley Securities Ltd (in Liq) (1992) 27 NSWLR 91 Batson v De Carvalho (1948) 48 SR (NSW) 417 Bitannia v Parkline Constructions Pty Limited (2006) 67 NSWLR 9 Boston Deep Sea Fishing and Ice Co v Ansell (1888) 39 Ch D 339 Branir Pty Limited v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Limited (2001) 117 FCR 424 Burger King Corporation v Hungry Jack's Pty Limited [2001] NSWCA 187 Campbell v BackOffice Investments Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 95 Canning v Temby [1905] HCA 45; (1905) 3 CLR 419 Carr v JA Berriman Pty Ltd [1953] HCA 31 CG Mal Pty Limited v Sanyo Office Machines Pty Limited [2001] NSWSC 445 Cornwall v Henson (1899) 2 Ch 710 Demagogue Pty Limited v Ramensky (1992) 39 FCR 31 Digi-Tech (Australia) Ltd v Brand (2004) 62 IPR 184 Dilosa v Latec Finance Pty Ltd (1966) 84 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 557 Drabsch v Switzerland General Insurance Co Ltd (1996) 130 FLR 127 Etna v Arif [1999] 2 VR 353 Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited v Arrowcrest Group Pty Limited (2003) 134 FCR 522 Franklins Pty Limited v Metcash Trading Ltd [2007] NSWSC 242 Green v Sevin (1879) 13 Ch D 589 Henjo Investments Pty Limited v Collins Marrickville Pty Limited (No 1) (1988) 39 FCR 546 Hirji Mulji v Cheong Yue Steamship Co Ltd [1926] AC 497 Holland v Wiltshire [1954] HCA 42; (1954) 90 CLR 409 Hope v RCA Photophone of Australia Pty Limited (1937) 59 CLR 348 Idameneo (No 123) Pty Limited v Ticco Pty Limited [2004] NSWCA 329 CASES CITED : Immer (No 145) Pty Ltd v Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) (1993) 182 CLR 26 Ingot Capital Investments Pty Limited & Ors v Macquarie Equity Capital Markets Ltd & Ors (No 6) (2007) 63 ACSR 1 Johnson Matthey Ltd v AC Rochester Overseas Corp (1990) 23 NSWLR 190 Johnson v Perez (1988) 166 CLR 351 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Limited (2007) 82 ALJR 345 Krywood v Drinkwater [2000] NSWCA 126 Lantry v Tomule Pty Limited (2007) ANZ Conv R 187; [2007] NSWSC 81 Larking v Great Western (Nepean) Gravel Ltd (In liq) [1940] HCA 37 Laurinda Pty Limited v Capalaba Park Shopping Centre Pty Limited (1989) 166 CLR 623 Leda Holdings Pty Limited v Oraka Pty Limited (1998) ATPR 41-601 Legione v Hateley (1983) 152 CLR 406 Lenneberg v McGirr (1919) 19 SR (NSW) 83 Macquarie Generation v Peabody Resources Ltd [2000] NSWCA 361 Mangrove Mountain Quarries Pty Limited v Barlow [2007] NSWSC 492 McDonald v Denny Lascelles (1933) 48 CLR 457 Moukhayber v Camden Timber & Hardware Co Pty Limited [2002] NSWCA 58 Ogle v Comboyuro Investments Pty Limited (1976) 136 CLR 444 Perry v Sherlock (1888) 14 VLR 492 Photo Production Ltd v Securicor Transport Ltd [1980] AC 827 Poulet Frais Pty Limited & Anor v The Silver Fox Company Pty Limited (as trustee for the Baker Family Trust) & Ors (2005) 220 ALR 221 Reg Russell & Sons Pty Limited v Buxton Meats Pty Limited (1994) ATPR (Digest) 46-127 Roadshow Entertainment Pty Limited v ACN 053 006 269 Pty Limited (Receiver and Manager appointed) (formerly CEL Home Video Pty Limited (1997) 42 NSWLR 462 Ryledar Pty Limited v Euphoric Pty Limited [2007] NSWCA 65 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Ltd (2000) 170 ALR 594 Skywest Aviation Pty Limited v Commonwealth of Australia (1995) 126 FLR 61 Spence v Crawford [1939] 3 All ER 271 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Heath Outdoor Pty Limited (1986) 7 NSWLR 170 Stickney v Keeble [1915] AC 386 Taylor v Brown (1839) 2 Beav 180 The Millstream Pty Limited v Schultz [1980] 1 NSWLR 555 Tricontinental Corporation Ltd v HDFI Ltd (1990) 21 NSWLR 689 Waters Lane Pty Limited v Sweeney [2006] NSWSC 222 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Wendt v Bruce [1931] HCA 9; (1931) 45 CLR 245 Whittet v State Bank of New South Wales (1991) 24 NSWLR 146