Commissioner for Fair Trading v Jonval Builders Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1893

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Commissioner for Fair Trading v Jonval Builders Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1893 Hearing dates: 14 – 17 May 2018; 12 – 13 June 2018 Date of orders: 31 December 2019 Decision date: 31 December 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) The Court directs the plaintiff to serve the defendants, through its solicitor, with a draft minute of order reflecting the foregoing reasons for judgment by 10 February 2020 and to file in court, by email to the Associate to Justice Rothman, by 24 February 2020, such draft of orders, or the minutes of order reflecting any agreement thereon between the plaintiff and the defendants.

(2) To the extent that there is no agreement that the draft minute of order reflects the foregoing reasons for judgment, the defendants shall file any proposed minute of order prescribing that which they submit reflects the foregoing reasons for judgment by 4pm on 24 February 2020. Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act – misleading or deceptive conduct – unconscionable conduct – sale of "movable" and "immovable" dwellings affixed to a site – sites approved for short-term occupation only – purchased after representations as to "permanent living" for retirees – analysis of provisions – factual summary – orders to be made for declarations and compensation – leave to apply for injunctions if conduct were to continue – plaintiff directed to file orders to reflect reasons Legislation Cited: Australian Consumer Law (NSW), ss 3, 18 and 21, 232, 237, 239(1)(a)(i), 239(2)(a), 243(d) Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2, ss 140B and 140K Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), ss 27, 28, 42, 43, 65, 72 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), s 68 National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Cth) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 52 Cases Cited: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Kobelt (2019) 93 ALJR 743; [2019] HCA 18 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Hellicar (2012) 247 CLR 345; [2012] HCA 17 Bell v Thompson (1934) 34 SR (NSW) 431 Blatch v Archer (1774) 98 ER 969 Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362; [1956] HCA 81 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Brown, Lionel & Anor v Jam Factory Pty Ltd & Anor (1981) 35 ALR 79; [1981] FCA 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 Limited v Nike International Limited (2000) 202 CLR 45; [2000] HCA 12 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447; [1983] HCA 14 Cummins Generator Technologies Germany GmbH v Johnson Controls Australia Pty Limited (2015) 326 ALR 556; [2015] NSWCA 264 Fabre v Arenales (1992) 27 NSWLR 437 Gates v City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (1986) 160 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 3 Hurley v McDonald's Australia Ltd [1999] FCA 1728 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Morgan v Babcock & Wilcox Ltd (1929) 43 CLR 163; [1929] HCA 25 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 191; [1982] HCA 44 Qantas Airways Ltd v Cameron (1996) 66 FCR 246; [1996] FCA 1483 R v Burdett (1820) 106 ER 873 Taco Company of Australia Inc v Taco Bell Pty Ltd (1982) 42 ALR 177; [1982] FCA 336 Weissensteiner v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 217; [1993] HCA 65 Westpac Banking Corporation v Jamieson & Ors (2016) 1 Qd R 495; [2015] QCA 50 Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661; [1985] HCA 65 Texts Cited: Moore H, Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary (4th ed, 2003) The Macquarie Dictionary (3rd ed, 1997)) Wigmore J, A Treatise on the Anglo-American System of Evidence (3rd ed, 1940) vol 2, s 285, at 162 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Commissioner for Fair Trading (Plaintiff) Jonval Builders Pty Limited ACN 005177793 (First Defendant) Hacienda Caravan Park Pty Limited (Second Defendant) John Allan Willmott (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R Francois / K Jones (Plaintiff) A J H Morris QC / L A Jurth (Defendants)