International Swimwear Logistics Ltd v Australian Swimwear Company Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 488

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: International Swimwear Logistics Ltd v Australian Swimwear Company Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 488 Hearing dates: 12 May 2011 Decision date: 25 May 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Ward J Decision: Order for separate determination of questions of liability in advance of questions of quantum. Stay of orders in relation to special purpose liquidator pending determination of questions of liability. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE - application by second to fifth defendants for an order that the matter proceed by way of separate determination of preliminary questions - application for stay of earlier orders relating to appointment and conduct of special purpose liquidator - HELD - order pursuant to rule 28.2 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) that the matter proceed by way of separate and preliminary determination of question of liability in advance of question of quantum of damages or other relief sought - order that the orders made on 26 November 2010 relating to the special purpose liquidator be stayed pending determination of question of liability Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Fair Trading Act 1989 (NSW) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Alternative Business Solutions Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Alternative Business Solutions (Aust) Pty Ltd (in admin) [2006] FCA 400 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Storm Financial Ltd [2009] FCA 269 Barnes v Addy (1874) LR 9 Ch App 244 Brambles Holdings Limited v Bathurst City Council [2001] NSWCA 61; (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Castlereagh Motels Ltd v Davies-Roe (1966) 84 WN (Pt 2) (NSW) 182 Combet & Anor v Commonwealth of Australia & Ors [2005] HCATrans 459 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Friedrich (1991) 5 ACSR 115 Flore v NSW Department of Education and Training [2006] NSWSC 1227 Friedrich v Herald and Weekly Times Ltd (1990) VR 995 Galladin Pty Ltd v Aimworth Pty Ltd (in liq) (1993) 11 ACSR 23; 11 ACLC 838 Greenhalgh v Arderne Cinemas Ltd [1951] Ch 286 Grove v Flavel (1986) 43 SASR 410 Idoport Pty Limited & anor v National Australia Bank Limited & 8 ors (15) [2000] NSWSC 1215 In the matter of Cobar Mines Pty Ltd (Receiver and Manager Appointed) (unreported, NSWSC, 22 June 1998) Jeffree v NCSC [1990] WAR 183; (1989) 15 ACLR 217 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v District Court (NSW) [2004] NSWCA 324; (2004) 61 NSWLR 344 Kalls Enterprises Pty Ltd (in liq) v Baloglow (2007) 63 ACSR 557 Kuwait Asia Bank EC v National Mutual Life Nominees Ltd [1991] 1 AC 187; [1990] 3 All ER 404 Lo v Nielsen & Moller Autoglass (NSW) Pty Ltd; [2008] NSWSC 407; (2008) 26 ACLC 497 Matrix Film Investment 1 Pty Limited & ors v Alameda Films llc and Warner Brothers Entertainment and Pictures Inc [2007] NSWSC 523 McGrath; Re HIH Insurance Limited [2006] NSWSC 385 Nicholson v Permakraft (NZ) Ltd [1985] 1 NZLR 242; (1985) 3 ACLC 453 Onefone Australia Pty Ltd v OneTel (in Liq) [2003] NSWSC 1228; (2003) 48 ACSR 562 Parbery Re Trio Capital Ltd [2010] NSWSC 775 Pioneer Park Pty Limited (in liquidation) v ANZ Banking Group Limited & ors [2005] NSWSC 832 Re Obie Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 4) (1984) 8 ACLR 967; (1984) 2 ACLC 663 Re Spedley Securities Ltd (in Liq) (1991) 4 ACSR 555 Richardson v Mellish (1824) 2 Bing 229 Sandhurst Trustees Ltd v Harvey (2004) 88 SASR 519 Snowy Hydro v Metroll Victoria & Ors [2007] VSC 188 Stevens v Keogh (1946) 72 CLR 1 Street & 7 ors v Luna Park Sydney Pty Limited & 3 ors [2007] NSWSC 697 Sycotex Pty Ltd v Baseler (1994) 122 ALR 531 Tepko Pty Ltd v Water Board (2001) 206 CLR 1 The Bell Group Ltd (in liq) v Westpac Banking Corporation (No 9) (2008) 70 ACSR 1; [2008] WASC 239 Thompson v White and Another; ACDC v Thompson (No 3) [2005] NSWSC1257 West Mercia Safetywear Ltd (in liq) v Dodd [1988] BCLC 250 Wilkinson v Osborne (1915) 21 CLR 89; 22 ALR 57 Winkworth v Edward Barron Development Co Ltd [1987] 1 All ER 114 Texts Cited: Ford's Principles of Corporations Law Tomasic, "Commercial Morality and Public Policy as Principles of Corporate Insolvency Law" in Cranston (ed) Making Commercial Law: Essays in Honour of Roy Goode (1997) Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: International Swimwear Logistics Ltd (First Plaintiff) The Australian Swimwear Company (Asia) Ltd (Second Plaintiff) Robert Bright (Third Plaintiff) The Australian Swimwear Company Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Stephen Philpott (Second Defendant) Natasha Sassoon (Third Defendant) Bond-Eye Holdings Pty Ltd (Fourth Defendant) Bond Eye Australia Pty Ltd (Fifth Defendant) Representation: Counsel C Stomo (Plaintiffs) C Harris SC with L Gor (Second to Fifth Defendants) Solicitors Comino Prassas (Plaintiffs) Colin Biggers & Paisley (Second to Fifth Defendants) Brown Wright Stein (Special Purpose Liquidator) File Number(s): 10132068