Feldman v GNM Australia Ltd [2017] NSWCA 107

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Feldman v GNM Australia Ltd [2017] NSWCA 107 Hearing dates: 28 March 2017 Decision date: 25 May 2017 Before: Beazley P at [1]; McColl JA at [112]; Macfarlan JA at [127] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal;

(2) Appeal allowed;

(3) Set aside the orders made by the primary judge;

(4) Dismiss the respondents' notice of motion;

(5) Order that the respondents pay the appellant's costs of the summons seeking leave to appeal, the appeal and the appellant's costs at first instance. Catchwords: CONTRACT – whether binding agreement in existence – whether binding agreement was contained in correspondence between parties – whether parties' intention was to be bound prior to execution of deed of release – whether case fell within first or fourth category recognised in Masters v Cameron – relevance of the language used by the parties – relevance of term as to confidentiality – relevance of time period for taking steps pursuant to agreement

CONTRACT – whether binding agreement in existence – whether binding agreement was contained in correspondence between parties – whether agreement incomplete – whether term as to confidentiality agreed – relevance of term as to confidentiality

AGENCY – whether solicitor had ostensible authority to bind client to a contract – whether agreement was in the context of litigation – whether solicitor had been held out as having authority to enter into a binding agreement – language used in correspondence between parties Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVth Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd v GR Securities Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 622 Booker Industries Pty Ltd v Wilson Parking (Qld) Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 600 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153; [2001] NSWCA 61 Broome v Cassel & Co Ltd [1972] AC 1027 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Limited (1993) 178 CLR 44; [1993] HCA 31 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1995) 9 ANZ Insurance Cases ¶61-232 Coal Cliff Collieries v Sijehema Pty Ltd (1991) 24 NSWLR 1 Crabtree-Vickers Pty Ltd v Australian Direct Mail Advertising & Addressing Co Pty Ltd (1975) 133 CLR 72 Dingle v Associated Newspapers Limited [1964] AC 371 Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v Selfridge and Co Ltd [1915] AC 847 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc (2002) 209 CLR 95; [2002] HCA 8 Freeman & Lockyer v Buckhurst Park Properties (Mangal) Ltd [1964] 2 QB 480 Geissler v Accro Motors Pty Ltd (1955) 73 WN (NSW) 31 Gleaner Co Ltd v Abrahams [2004] 1 AC 628; [2003] UKPC 55 GR Securities Pty Ltd v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 631 John Fairfax & Sons Ltd v Carson (1991) 24 NSWLR 259 Johnston v Brightstars Holding Company Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 150 Love and Stewart (Limited) v S Instone and Co (Limited) (1917) 33 TLR 475 Lucke v Cleary (2011) 111 SASR 134; [2011] SASCFC 118 Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 Niesmann v Collingridge (1921) 29 CLR 177 Northside Developments Pty Ltd v Registrar-General (1990) 170 CLR 146 Pagnan SpA v Feed Products Ltd [1987] 2 Lloyd's Rep 601 Pavlovic v Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd (2015) 90 NSWLR 605; [2015] NSWCA 313 Perry v Anthony [2016] NSWCA 56 RTS Ltd v Molkerei Alois Müller GmbH & Co KG [2010] 1 WLR 753; [2010] UKSC 14 Sagacious Procurement Pty Ltd v Symbion Health Ltd [2008] NSWCA 149 Sinclair, Scott & Co v Naughton (1929) 43 CLR 310 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118; [1966] HCA 40 Zoef v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2016) 92 NSWLR 570; [2016] NSWCA 283 Texts Cited: G E Dal Pont, Law of Agency (3rd ed, 2014, LexisNexis) J W Carter, Contract Law in Australia (6th ed, 2013, LexisNexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Yosef Yitzhak Feldman (Appellant) GNM Australia Ltd (First Respondent Melissa Davey (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Cohen (Appellant) B McClintock SC; R Potter (Respondents)