Dib Group Pty Ltd v Ventouris Enterprises Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 300

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Dib Group Pty Ltd v Ventouris Enterprises Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 300 Hearing dates: 14 July 2011 Decision date: 21 September 2011 Before: Allsop P at 1 Macfarlan JA at 65 Handley AJA at 66 Decision: 1.The question of the correctness of Sykes v Reserve Bank of Australia (1998) 88 FCR 511; City of Botany Bay Council v Jazabas Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 94; and Downey v Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2005] QCA 199 not being necessary to resolve for the resolution of the appeal, leave to argue that they should not be followed is refused. 2.Appeal dismissed with costs. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: TRADE AND COMMERCE - misleading and deceptive conduct - representations as to future matters - Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), s 41 and Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 51A - whether necessary to show existence of reasonable grounds in fact relied upon by representor - not necessary to decide whether Sykes v Reserve Bank of Australia (1998) 88 FCR 511 and City of Botany Bay Council v Jazabas Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 94 should not be followed.

TRADE AND COMMERCE - misleading and deceptive conduct - representations as to future matters - Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), s 41(2) effects a reversal of the legal or persuasive onus of proof. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 100 Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), s 41, 41(2) Fair Trading Act 1987 (WA), s 9(2) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 51A, 51A(2) Cases Cited: Bullabidgee Pty Ltd v McCleary [2011] NSWCA 259 City of Botany Bay Council v Jazabas Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 94 Commissioner for Fair Trading, Department of Commerce v Perrett [2007] NSWSC 1130 Computer Accounting & Tax Pty Ltd v Professional Services of Australia Pty Ltd [2008] WASC 133 Cummings v Lewis (1993) 41 FCR 559 Digi-Tech (Australia) Ltd v Brand [2004] NSWCA 58 Downey v Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2005] QCA 199 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 22; 230 CLR 89 Gett v Tabet [2009] NSWCA 76; 254 ALR 504 Holz v Lane [2005] WASCA 40 Lewarne v Momentum Productions Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 1136 Metz Holdings Pty Ltd v Simmac Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 981 Momcilovic v The Queen [2011] HCA 34 Moss v Lowe Hunt and Partners Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 1181 Re McGrath; Pan Pharmaceuticals Ltd (In Liq) v Australian Naturalcare Products Pty Ltd [2008] FCAFC 2; 165 FCR 230 Sykes v Reserve Bank of Australia (1998) 88 FCR 511 Traderight Pty Ltd v Bank of Queensland [2010] NSWSC 139; 266 ALR 503 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Trade Practices Law (Looseleaf Service: Lawbook Company Limited) R V Miller, Miller's Annotated Trade Practices Act: Australian Competition and Consumer Law (Thomson Reuters, 32nd Ed, June 2010) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dib Group Pty Limited (First Appellant) George Dib (Second Appellant) Ventouris Enterprises Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Mr J J Garnsey QC, Mr D L Cook (Appellants) Mr J C Kelly SC, Mr S A Benson (Respondent) Macree Law (Appellants) Butlers Law Group (Respondent) File Number(s): 2006/257602 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9111 Citation: Ventouris Enterprises Pty Ltd v Dib Group Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 963 Date of Decision: 2010-09-13 00:00:00 Before: Slattery J File Number(s): 2006/257602