Woolworths Limited v About Life Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1117

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Woolworths Limited v About Life Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1117 Hearing dates: 26, 27 and 28 July 2017 Date of orders: 24 August 2017 Decision date: 24 August 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Emmett AJA Decision: 1. The plaintiff is directed to file and serve, no later than 1 September 2017, short minutes of orders to give effect to the conclusions reached in my reasons, together with any submissions it wishes to make on the question of costs. 2. The defendants are directed to file and serve, no later than 6 September 2017, their respective responses to the plaintiff's proposed orders and submissions as to costs. 3. The proceedings are adjourned to a date convenient to the parties and the Court for the making of orders, the giving of directions for the further conduct of the proceedings and argument on costs if necessary. Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY – Torrens title – leases CONTRACTS – general contractual principles – construction and interpretation of contracts – whether a contractual clause constituted a breach of an undertaking made pursuant to s 87B of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) EQUITY – general principles – priority and notice Legislation Cited: Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), ss 4L, 45, 87B, Pt IV Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: ACCC v Signature Security Group Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 2 Australian Capital Finance Management Pty Ltd v Linfield Developments Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 99 Beneficial Finance Corporation Ltd v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (1995) 36 NSWLR 510 Bondi Beach Astra Retirement Village Pty Ltd v Gora (2011) 82 NSWLR 665; [2011] NSWCA 396 Booker Industries v Wilson Parking (Qld) (1982) 149 CLR 600; [1982] HCA 53 Carantinos v Magafas [2008] NSWCA 304 Dresna Pty Ltd v Misu Nominees Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 169 Equuscorp Pty Ltd v Haxton (2012) 246 CLR 498; [2012] HCA 7 Esso Australia Ltd v Air Ride Transportation Pty Ltd, John Holmes, Ken Stevenson And Mobil Oil Australia Ltd (Supreme Court (Vic), Marks J, 28 September 1988, unrep) Gnych v Polish Club Ltd (2015) 255 CLR 414; [2015] HCA 23 Goldus Pty Ltd v Australian Mining Pty Ltd [2015] SASC 32 Hall v Busst (1960) 104 CLR 206; [1960] HCA 84 Heid v Reliance Finance Corporation Pty Ltd (1983) 154 CLR 326; [1983] HCA 30 J & H Just (Holdings) Pty Ltd v Bank of New South Wales (1971) 125 CLR 546; [1971] HCA 57 John Nitschke Nominees Pty Ltd v Hahndorf Golf Club Inc (2004) 88 SASR 334; [2004] SASC 128 Lapin v Abigail (1930) 44 CLR 166; [1930] HCA 6 Latec Investments Ltd v Hotel Terrigal Pty Ltd (In Liq) (1965) 113 CLR 265; [1965] HCA 17 Mackay v Wilson (1947) 47 SR (NSW) 315 Manchester Ship Canal Company v Manchester Racecourse Company [1901] 2 Ch 37 Moffett v Dillon [1999] 2 VR 480; [1999] VSCA 32 Moraitis Fresh Packaging (NSW) Pty Ltd v Fresh Express (Australia) Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 327 Motor Works Limited v Westminster Auto Services Limited [1997] 1 NZLR 762 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Mushroom Composters Pty Ltd v IS & DE Robertson Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 1 Nullagine Investments Pty Ltd v Western Australian Club Inc (1993) 177 CLR 635; [1993] HCA 45 Octra Nominees Pty Ltd v Chipper [2007] FCAFC 92 Pata Nominees Pty Ltd v Durnsford Pty Ltd [1988] WAR 365 Pritchard v Briggs [1980] Ch 338 Rasch Nominees Pty Ltd v Bartholomaeus (2012) 114 SASR 448; [2012] SASC 70 Sahade v BP Australia Pty Ltd (2004) 12 BPR 22,149; [2004] NSWSC 512 SST Consulting Services Pty Ltd v Rieson (2006) 225 CLR 516; [2006] HCA 31 Tanwar Enterprises Pty Ltd v Cauchi (2003) 217 CLR 315; [2003] HCA 57 THL Robina Pty Ltd v The Glades Golf Club Pty Ltd [2005] 2 Qd R 186; [2004] QSC 461 Thorby v Goldberg (1964) 112 CLR 597; [1964] HCA 41 Transfield Properties (Kent St) Pty Ltd v Amos Aked Swift Pty Ltd (1994) 36 NSWLR 321 Upper Hunter County DC v Australian Chilling & Freezing Co Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 429; [1968] HCA 8 Walker Corporation Pty Ltd v WR Pateman Pty Ltd (1990) 20 NSWLR 624 Warren v Lawton (No 3) [2016] WASC 285 Witham v Witham [2000] WASC 236 Woodroffe v Box (1954) 92 CLR 245; [1954] HCA 22 Yango Pastoral Co Pty Ltd v First Chicago Australia Ltd (1978) 139 CLR 410; [1978] HCA 42 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Woolworths Limited (Plaintiff) About Life Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Harris Farm Markets Double Bay Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Council of the Municipality of Woollahra t/as Woollahra Municipal Council (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Darke SC with Z Heger (Plaintiff) T A Atkins (First Defendant) P M Wood, B K Lim, T E O'Brien (Second Defendant)