Jacfun Pty Limited v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2012] NSWCA 218

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Jacfun Pty Limited v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2012] NSWCA 218 Hearing dates: 14 and 15 May 2012 Decision date: 25 July 2012 Before: Allsop P at [1] Macfarlan JA at [71] Barrett JA at [72] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the orders of the Supreme Court made 8 March 2011 and, in lieu thereof, order: a) judgment for the plaintiff for $1.25m; and b) the defendant pay the plaintiff's costs. 3. The respondent pay the appellant's costs of the appeal. [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 PRACTICES - misleading or deceptive conduct - proposed redevelopment of Darling Walk site - negotiations between appellant tenant and respondent landlord over possible surrender of lease - discussions about types of redevelopment to be allowed and possibility of rezoning - landlord's negotiator tasked with lowering expectations - representation by landlord that it did not foresee office development being permitted and that best possible future development would be a low-rise hotel - effect of representation on decision to surrender lease and price of surrender - lowering of expectations and loss of chance to negotiate higher price for surrender of lease Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Cases Cited: Awad v Twin Creeks Properties Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 200 Barnes v Hay (1988) 12 NSWLR 337 Chappel v Hart [1998] HCA 55; 195 CLR 232 Environmental Agency v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1999] 2 AC 22 Gould v Vaggelas [1985] HCA 85; 157 CLR 215 Henville v Walker [2001] HCA 52; 206 CLR 459 I & L Securities Pty Ltd v HTW Valuers (Brisbane) Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 41; 210 CLR 109 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd [1998] HCA 69; 196 CLR 494 Milner v Delita Pty Ltd (1985) 61 ALR 557 Parramatta City Council v Hale (1982) 47 LGRA 319 Ricochet Pty Ltd v Equity Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd (1993) 41 FCR 229 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL [1994] HCA 4; 179 CLR 332 Tefbao Pty Ltd v Stannic Securities Pty Ltd (1993) 118 ALR 565 Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia [1992] HCA 55; 175 CLR 514 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jacfun Pty Limited (Appellant) Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr B Walker SC, Mr M A Jones SC (Appellant) Mr C R C Newlinds SC, Mr J Baird (Respondent) Solicitors: Landerer & Company (Appellant) Clayton Utz (Respondent) File Number(s): 2009/298650 Decision under appeal Citation: Jacfun Pty Limited v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2011] NSWSC 119 Date of Decision: 2011-03-08 00:00:00 Before: Ball J File Number(s): 2009/298650