Workplace Safety Australia Pty Limited v Simple OHS Solutions Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1936

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Workplace Safety Australia Pty Limited v Simple OHS Solutions Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1936 Hearing dates: 18 November to 21 November and 26 November 2013 Decision date: 11 December 2013 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Rein J Decision: Judgment for cross-claimants against the cross-defendants in the amount of $208, 177.39 (plus interest calculated on the basis of Practice Note SC Gen 16). Judgment for defendant on plaintiff's claim Catchwords: CONTRACT - whether the defendant's failure to obtain 15 new customers per month over a six month period ("minimum customer requirement") and the failure to pay an instalment amount were breaches of the Distribution Agreement ("the Agreement") entitling the plaintiff to terminate; whether clause 2(c) of the Agreement required payment by a Saturday and whether, if it did, time for payment was essential permitting termination for non-payment without notice TRADE AND COMMERCE - whether the Agreement was a franchise agreement subject to the Franchising Code of Conduct ("FCC") and hence whether the defendants contravened s 51AD of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the FCC ESTOPPEL - whether the defendant was estopped from relying on the FCC and breaches by the plaintiff ESTOPPEL - whether the plaintiff was estopped from relying on the breach of the minimum customer requirement Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Cases Cited: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) v Kyloe Pty Ltd [2007] ATPR 42-194; [2007] FCA 1522 Barilla v James (1964) 81 WN (pt 1) (NSW) 457 Capital Networks Pty Ltd v .Au Domain Administration Limited [2004] FCA 808 Equititrust Ltd v Franks [2009] NSWCA 128 Franks v Equitiloan Security Pty Ltd (No 2) [2008] NSWSC 33 Kell & Rigby Pty Ltd v Flurrie Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 906 Kok Hoong v Leong Cheong Kweng Mines Ltd [1964] AC 993 Master Education Services v Ketchell (2008) 236 CLR 101, (2008) 249 ALR 44 Overmyer Industrial Brokers Pty Ltd v Campbells Cash & Carry Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 305 Rafferty v Madgwicks; Time 2000 Systems (Aust) Pty Ltd v Rafferty (2012) 203 FCR 1, [2012] FCAFC 37 St Alder v Waverly Council [2010] NSWCA 22 Tudor Developments Pty Ltd v Makeig (2008) 72 NSWLR 624, [2008] NSWCA 263 Wallace-Smith v Thiess Infraco (Swanston) Pty Ltd (2005) 218 ALR 1; [2005] FCAFC 49 Texts Cited: Lewison and Hughes Interpretation of Contracts, 1st ed (1989) Sweet and Maxwell Seddon et al Cheshire & Fifoot Law of Contract (Australian Edition) 10th (2012) LexisNexis Buttersworths Category: Principal judgment Parties: Workplace Safety Australia Pty Limited (plaintiff / first cross defendant) Simple OHS Solutions Pty Limited (first defendant/ first cross claimant) Sue Louise Bottrell (second defendant/ second cross claimant) Kim Kerri Ann Schekeloff (second cross defendant) Representation: Counsel: T. Alexis SC and Z. Steggall (plaintiff/first and second cross defendants) M. Ashhurst SC and L. Corbett (first and second defendants/ first and second cross claimants) Solicitors: Von Muenster Solicitors & Attorneys (plaintiff and first and second cross defendants) Cara Marasco & Co (first and second defendants/ first and second cross claimants) File Number(s): 2012/106183