Workplace Safety Australia v Simple OHS Solutions Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 84

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Workplace Safety Australia v Simple OHS Solutions Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 84 Hearing dates: 15 October 2014 Decision date: 08 April 2015 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Basten JA at [174]; Emmett JA at [175] Decision: 1.Appeal dismissed 2.Appellant to pay the respondents' costs of the appeal. Catchwords: TRADE AND COMMERCE – whether agreement is a franchise agreement subject to the Franchising Code of Conduct – whether franchisor has granted franchisee the right to carry on the business of offering, supplying or distributing goods or services – whether business is to be carried on under a system or marketing plan – whether system or marketing plan is substantially controlled by franchisor

CONTRACT – termination – breach - whether time is of the essence for payment of an instalment

EQUITY – estoppel – promissory estoppel – representation - requirement for representation to be clear and unequivocal - whether conduct is reasonably capable of giving rise to a representation

DAMAGES – breach of s 51AD of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Trade Practices (Industry Codes – Franchising) Regulations 1998 (Cth), Schedule – Franchising Code of Conduct Cases Cited: Akron Securities Ltd v Iliffe (1997) 41 NSWLR 353 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Kyloe Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 1522 Australian Financial Services and Leasing Pty Ltd v Hills Industries Ltd [2014] HCA 14; 307 ALR 512 Burger King Corporation v Hungry Jack's Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 187; 69 NSWLR 558 Caltex Oil Australia Pty Ltd v Best [1990] HCA 53; 170 CLR 516 Capital Networks Pty Ltd v .au.Domain Administration Limited [2004] FCA 808 Cobbe v Yeoman's Row Management Ltd [2008] UKHL 55; 1 WLR 1752 Grand Light & Supply Co Inc v Honeywell Inc 771 F 2d 672 (2nd Cir 1985) Hammond v J P Morgan Trust Australia Ltd [2012] NSWCA 295 I & L Securities Pty Ltd v HTW Valuers (Brisbane) Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 41; 210 CLR 109 Master Education Services Pty Ltd v Ketchell [2008] HCA 38; 236 CLR 101 [2008] HCA 38; 236 CLR 101 Rafferty v Madgwicks [2012] FCAFC 37; 203 FCR 1 Re Application of the News Corp Ltd (1987) 15 FCR 227 United Group Rail Services Ltd v Rail Corporation New South Wales [2009] NSWCA 177; 74 NSWLR 618 Workplace Safety Australia Pty Limited v Simple OHS Solutions Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1936 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, M J Leeming and P G Turner, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity Doctrines & Remedies, (5th ed 2015, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Workplace Safety Australia Pty Limited ACN 090 555 570 (Appellant) Simple OHS Solutions Pty Limited CAN 131 250 630 (First respondent) Sue Louise Bottrell (Second respondent) Representation: Counsel: Todd Alexis SC / Craig Arnott (Appellant) Mark Ashurst SC / Lee Corbett (First and second respondents)