ACI Operations Pty Ltd v Tallant [2013] NSWSC 367

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: ACI Operations Pty Ltd v Tallant [2013] NSWSC 367 Hearing dates: 15 April 2013 Decision date: 15 April 2013 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Lindsay J Decision: Judgment for the plaintiff, with costs Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT LAW - contract of service - rights, duties and liabilities as between employer and employee - breach of contract and fiduciary obligations - misappropriation - remedies - Common Law damages - Restitution - Equitable compensation - Measures of relief.

EQUITY - general principles - fiduciary obligations - first defendant was a manager of plaintiff company - first defendant induced plaintiff to pay a sum of money to business name registered in name of his wife, the second defendant, for goods not supplied and services not rendered to plaintiff - second defendant liable for knowing receipt - equitable compensation awarded against both defendants.

RESTITUTION - general principles - common money counts - money had and received - knowing receipt of misappropriated money - repayment required. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 NSW Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 NSW Rule 36.15, Rule 36.16 Cases Cited: Barnes v Addy (1874) LR 9 Ch App 244 Kalls Enterprises Pty Ltd (in liq) v Baloglow [2007] NSWCA 191; 63 ACSR 557 at [157]-[158] Johnson v Perez (1988) 166 CLR 351 at 355-356, 367, 371 and 380 Greater Pacific Investments Pty Ltd (In Liq) v Australian National Industries Ltd (1996) 39 NSWLR 143 at 1548 Youyang Pty Ltd v Minter Ellison Morris Fletcher (2003) 212 CLR 484 at 500-502 [38]-[44] and 499-504 [36]-[50] Hungerfords v Walker (1989) 171 CLR 125 at 148 Wenham v Ella (1972) 127 CLR 454 at 460 Robinson v Harman (1848) 154 ER 363 at 365 Maguire v Makaronis (1997) 188 CLR 449 at 469-470 Re Dawson (deceased) [1966] 2 NSWR 211; 84 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 399. Cobeam Palmer Ltd v Stock Affiliates Pty Ltd (1968) 122 CLR 25 at 33 ANZ Banking Group Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1988) 164 CLR 662 at 673 Roxborough v Rothmans of Pall Mall Australia Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 516 at 524-525 [14]-[15], 529-530 [25]-[28], 539-540 [62]-[64], 551 [90], 554-555 [100] and 589-590 [202]- [203] Greater Pacific Investments Pty Ltd (In Liq) v Australian National Industries Ltd (1996) 39 NSWLR 143 at 154B Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89 at 140-141 [111]-[113], 142 [115], 155 [147] and 159 [158] Cf, Black v S Freedman & Co (1910) 12 CLR 105 at 109 Vacuum Oil Pty Co Ltd v Stockdale (1942) 42 (NSW) 239 at 243-244; 59 WN (NSW) 188 at 190-191. Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: ACI Operations Pty Ltd (ACN 004 230 326) Defendants: Simon (aka Sam) Tallant Alison Tallant Representation: L Gor (plaintiff) Holding Redlich (plaintiff) File Number(s): 2011/00120548