Ireland v WG Riverview Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 307

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Ireland v WG Riverview Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 307 Hearing dates: 14 November 2019 Date of orders: 20 December 2019 Decision date: 20 December 2019 Before: Bell ACJ at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [36]; Barrett AJA at [91] Decision: (1) Allow the appeal. (2) Set aside the judgment entered, and the costs order made, at first instance on 26 March 2019. (3) Order that the respondent pay the appellants' costs at first instance and on appeal. (4) Direct that the respondent have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW), if qualified. Catchwords: TRADE PRACTICES – misleading or deceptive conduct – sale of bull – auction catalogue – incorrect description of bull's sire – disclaimer by vendor of correctness of information included in auction catalogue – proper characterisation of misleading or deceptive conduct – whether statement as to bull's sire was one of fact or belief

TRADE PRACTICES – damages for misleading or deceptive conduct – damages awarded for difference between stud and commercial cattle value of subject bull's progeny – whether primary judge awarded damages for expectation loss Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), sch 2 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 323(a) Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) Cases Cited: Amaca Pty Ltd v Ellis (2010) 240 CLR 111; [2010] HCA 5 Bank of New South Wales v The Commonwealth (1948) 76 CLR 1 Bateman v Slatyer (1987) 71 ALR 553 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 592; [2004] HCA 60 Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 238 CLR 304; [2009] HCA 25 Campomar Sociedad, Limitada v Nike International Ltd (2000) 202 CLR 45; [2000] HCA 12 Council of the City of Sydney v Goldspar Pty Limited [2004] FCA 568 at [145]; (2004) 62 IPR 274 Forrest v Australian Securities and Investment Commission (2012) 247 CLR 486; [2012] HCA 39 Global Sportsman Pty Ltd v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1984) 2 FCR 82 at 88; [1984] FCA 167 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings (1998) 196 CLR 494; [1998] HCA 69 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 191; [1982] HCA 44 Peter Anthony Thompson & Robyn Lesley Thompson v Ice Creameries of Australia Pty Ltd & David Alan Atchison [1998] FCA 54 Pyrotek Pty Ltd v Ausco Industries Pty Ltd (1992) ASC 56-131; (1992) ATPR (Digest) 46-085 R v Dookheea (2017) 262 CLR 402; [2017] HCA 36 Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty Ltd v Apotex Pty Ltd (No 3) (2011) 281 ALR 705; [2011] FCA 846 The Saints Gallery Pty Ltd v Plummer (1988) 80 ALR 525 Tobacco Institute of Australia Ltd v Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations Inc (1992) 38 FCR 1; [1992] FCA 962 Vasilevski v R [2019] NSWCCA 277 Weatherill v Bartlett [2017] NSWCA 175 Texts Cited: C Lockhart, The Law of Misleading or Deceptive Conduct (5th ed, 2019) JD Heydon, Competition and Consumer Law (Thomson Reuters Looseleaf at Service 216, October 2019) at [160.330] JJ Spigelman, "Truth and the Law" in N Perram and R Pepper (eds) The Byers Lectures 2000-2012 (Federation Press, 2012) R Miller, Miller's Australian Competition and Consumer Law Annotated (41st ed, 2019) S Gageler, "Alternative Facts in the Courts" (2019) 93 Australian Law Journal 585 S Gageler, "Evidence and truth" (2017) 13(3) Judicial Review 249 S Gageler, "Truth and justice, and sheep" (2018) 46 Australian Bar Review 205 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Corey Dean Ireland (First Appellant) Prudence Jane Ireland (Second Appellant) WG Riverview Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Pritchard SC / D-L Del Monte (Appellants) M Castle / G E Babe (Respondent)