Elegant Australia Pty Ltd v Chen and; Chen v Elegant Australia Pty Ltd [2020] NSWDC 7

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Elegant Australia Pty Ltd v Chen and; Chen v Elegant Australia Pty Ltd [2020] NSWDC 7 Hearing dates: 6, 7,14 and 15 November 2019 Decision date: 28 January 2020 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Hatzistergos DCJ Decision: The orders will be as follows:

(1) There will be a verdict and judgment in favour of the Plaintiff in the sum of $50,690.64

(2) Pre judgment interest on the said sum is to be awarded from pursuant to s 100 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 from 4 December 2018 at the rates provided in District Court Practice Note 15

(3) There will be a verdict for the Cross Defendants on the Further Amended Statement Cross Claim

(4) Subject to any application to my Associate within fourteen day for any further or other order as to costs the Defendant/Cross Claimant is to pay the Plaintiff/Cross Defendants' costs.

(5) Exhibits may be returned to the parties Catchwords: CONTRACTS — Construction — Extrinsic evidence

CONTRACTS — Breach of contract — Failure to pay business expenses and liabilities — Consequences of breach — Right to damages

CONTRACTS — Mistake of law — Whether plaintiff acted under a mistake of law from legal representative — Whether defendant unjustly enriched

CONTRACTS — Misleading conduct under statute — Misleading or deceptive conduct as to future matter

EMPLOYMENT LAW — Whether employer-employee relationship existed Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), s 18 Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW), s 7 Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), s 27 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), Part 2-2; ss 44, 45, 90, 325, 326, 545, 546, 547 Cases Cited: ACE Insurance ltd v Trifunovski [2013] FCAFC3 Ansett Australia Holdings Ltd v International Air Transport Association [2006] VSCA 242; (2006) 60 ACSR 468 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v. Hastings Shire Council [1977] HCA 40; (1977) 52 ALJR 20 Cherry v Steel-Park [2017] NSWCA 295 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v. State Rail Authority of NSW [1982] HCA 24; (1982) 149 CLR 337 David Securities Pty ltd v Commonwealth of Australia [1992] HCA 48; (1992) 175 CLR 353 Dylan Mann and Co Pty ltd as trustee for the Man Family Trust v Tiejag Pty Ltd as trustee for the Sheihy Khoury Family Trust [2018] NSWSC 1334 Fair Work Ombudsman v Quest South Perth Holding Pty Ltd, (2015) 228 FCR 346 Foran v Wight, (1989) 168 CLR 385; 1989 HCA 51 Gallagher v Pioneer Concrete (NSW) Pty Ltd (1993) 113 ALR 159 Harrington v Harrington Services Pty Ltd,[2016] NSWCA 369 Hotel Management Pty Ltd v KOP International Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 102 Massart v Blight (1951) 82 CLR 423 Phoenix Court Pty Ltd v Melbourne Central Pty Ltd [1997] FCA 1101 Rowe v Capital Territory Health Commissions [1982] FCA 4; 39 ALR 39 Shepherd v Felt and Textiles of Australia Ltd (1931) 45 CLR 359; [1931] ALR 194; (1931) 5 ALJR 109 [1931] HCA 21 State of Western Australia v Bond Corp Holdings Ltd (1990) 99 ALR 125 Taouk v Assure (NSW) Pty Ltd, [2017] NSWCA 227 Tolhurst v Associated Portland Cement Manufactures (1900) Ltd [1902] 2 KB 660 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Elegant Australia Pty Ltd (Plaintiff/First Cross Defendant) Michelle Chen (Defendant/Cross Claimant) Guchao Zhou (Second Cross Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr J.C. Lee (Plaintiff/Cross Defendants) Ms L Andelman (Defendant/Cross Claimant)