Culligan & Anor v Aco Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 290

Appeal Outcome: Special leave dismissed with costs by the High Court, 12 March 2010 s274/2009

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Culligan & Anor v Aco Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 290 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 1 September 2009

JUDGMENT DATE: 15 September 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Basten JA at 1; Young JA at 1; Sackville AJA at 1

1) Appeal allowed. 2) Set aside the order made by Johnstone DCJ on 24 February 2009. DECISION: 3) In lieu thereof, enter judgment for the appellants (the first and second defendants). 4) Order the respondent to pay the the appellants' costs of the trial and of the appeal. 5) The respondent, if otherwise qualified, should have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act 1951 (NSW).

CATCHWORDS: TRADE PRACTICES - purchase of a business- whether misleading or deceptive representations were made by vendor- whether the respresentations caused the purchaser loss or damage- significance of contractual disclaimer on reliance

LEGISLATION CITED: Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 52(1), 82(1) Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), ss 42(1), 68(1)

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 60; 218 CLR 592 Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd [2009] HCA 25; 257 ALR 610 Hornsby Building Information Centre Pty Ltd v Sydney Building Information Centre Ltd [1978] HCA 11; 140 CLR 216 CASES CITED: Henville v Walker [2000] HCA 52; 206 CLR 459 Keen Mar Corporation Pty Ltd v Labrador Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd [1989] FCA 46; (1989) ATPR (Digest) 46-048 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd [1982] HCA 44; 149 CLR 191 Poulet Frais Pty Ltd v The Silver Fox Co Pty Ltd [2005] FCAFC 131; 220 ALR 211