Tan Republic Pty Ltd (ACN 147 290 926) v Isabella Shop Fitout & Design Pty Ltd (ACN 147 193 815) & Ors [2013] NSWDC 320

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Tan Republic Pty Ltd (ACN 147 290 926) v Isabella Shop Fitout & Design Pty Ltd (ACN 147 193 815) & Ors [2013] NSWDC 320 Hearing dates: 11-15 March 2013; 24 April 2013; 13 May 2013 Decision date: 21 June 2013 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff against the first and second defendants. (2) Judgment for the third defendant against the plaintiff. (3) Parties to bring in Short Minutes of Order reflecting the calculation of damages and the agreed sums for GST and interest. (4) Liberty to apply in relation to costs. (5) Exhibits retained for 28 days. Catchwords: CONTRACTS - general contractual principles - parties - sham corporate entities - plaintiff enters into contract for shop fitout design with sham "corporation" using other companies' ACN and ABN numbers - whether plaintiff contracted with any corporation, or with the individuals who conducted the businesses CORPORATIONS - identification of - Australian Business Numbers (ABNs) and Australian Company Numbers (ACNs) TRADE PRACTICES - contract for shop fitout - fitout negligently designed and installed - whether conduct of defendants misleading and deceptive - concurrent tortfeasors - quantum Legislation Cited: Australian Consumer Law (Cth), ss 18, 87CB, 87CD and 236 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 35 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), s 137B Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 153 Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), s 42 Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988 (Cth), ss 3 and 18 Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW), s 16 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 51AA, 51AB, 51AC, 51, 52, 53 and 82 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2004 (NSW), r 42.1 Cases Cited: Bullock v London General Omnibus Company [1907] 1 KB 264 Ferdinand Nemeth v Prynew Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 1296 Hunt & Hunt Lawyers v Mitchell Morgan Nominees Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 10 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Sanderson v Blyth Theatre Co [1903] 2 KB 533 Texts Cited: - Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Tan Republic Pty Ltd (ACN 147 290 926) First Defendant: Isabella Shop Fitout & Design Pty Ltd (ACN 147 193 815) Second Defendant: Bill Issa Third Defendant: Tina Issa Representation: Plaintiff: Mr R P Freeman Defendants: Mrs J M Whitaker Plaintiff: Harbourside Legal Services Defendants: Agostino & Co. File Number(s): 2011/351285 Publication restriction: None