Alfred v Lanscar

Case [2007] FCA 1514


FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Alfred v Lanscar [2007] FCA 1514

SLIP RULE – orders incomplete and contained a clerical error – orders republished – orders take effect from date of earlier publication.

Alfred v Lanscar [2007] FCA 1001

GREGORY CHARLES ALFRED v LES LANSCAR AND CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION
ACD 15 OF 2006

BUCHANAN J
28 SEPTEMBER 2007
SYDNEY


IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY

ACD 15 OF 2006

BETWEEN:

GREGORY CHARLES ALFRED
Applicant

AND:

LES LANSCAR
First Respondent

CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION
Second Respondent

JUDGE:

BUCHANAN J

DATE OF ORDER:

28 SEPTEMBER 2007

WHERE MADE:

SYDNEY

BY CONSENT THE COURT DECLARES THAT:

1.a) By making a representation on 9 February 2005 to Paul Papas, a director of Papas Painting Contractors Pty Limited, to the effect that in order to work on the Avenue Apartments site (a site at the corner of Barry Drive and Northbourne Avenue, Turner in the Australian Capital City), painters were obliged to join the second respondent, and advising, encouraging or inciting Papas Painting Contractors Pty Limited via Mr Papas to refuse to make use of painting services offered by persons who were not members of the second respondent (whether they were or should have been employees or independent contractors), the first respondent contravened s 298S(2)(a) of the pre-reform Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth).

b)By making a representation on 9 February 2005 to Paul Papas, a director of Papas Painting Contractors Pty Limited, to the effect that in order to work on the Avenue Apartments site, (a site at the corner of Barry Drive and Northbourne Avenue, Turner in the Australian Capital City), painters were obliged to join the second respondent, and thereby intending to coerce Papas Painting Contractors Pty Limited via Mr Papas to refuse to make use of painting services offered by any of its employees who were not members of the second respondent, the first respondent contravened s 298S(2)(b) of the pre-reform Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth).

c)By the actions of the first respondent referred to in paragraph 1(a) and 1(b) above, the second respondent contravened s 298S(2)(a) and s 298S(2)(b) of the pre-reform Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth).

BY CONSENT THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

2a)      a penalty of $2,000 be imposed upon the first respondent in respect of the contraventions referred to in Declarations 1(a) and 1(b) above;

b)a penalty of $10,000 be imposed upon the second respondent in respect of the contraventions referred to in Declaration 1(c) above;

c)the penalties referred to in paragraphs 2(a) and 2(b) above be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund within 28 days of the date of these orders.

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

3.The declarations and orders above take effect on and from 4 July 2007.

Note:    Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.


IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY

ACD 15 OF 2006

BETWEEN:

GREGORY CHARLES ALFRED
Applicant

AND:

LES LANSCAR
First Respondent

CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION
Second Respondent

JUDGE:

BUCHANAN J

DATE:

28 SEPTEMBER 2007

PLACE:

SYDNEY

SUPPLEMENTARY REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

BUCHANAN J:

  1. In a judgment published on 4 July 2007 (Alfred v Lanscar [2007] FCA 1001) I provided reasons for making orders which the parties had agreed were appropriate.

  2. Unfortunately, the orders as formally published contain a clerical error and are incomplete.  As a result, they do not faithfully reflect the orders which the parties, by consent, asked the Court to make.  It has also become apparent that there is a clerical error in the orders proposed by the parties which was not detected by them or by the Court.

  3. In the circumstances, and for both reasons, it is appropriate to invoke the ‘slip rule’ and republish the orders in the form it was intended by the parties and the Court they should be made.

  4. The republished orders will take effect from the date of the earlier judgment.

I certify that the preceding four (4) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Buchanan.

Associate:

Dated:        28 September 2007

Counsel for the Applicant: Dr J G Renwick
Solicitor for the Applicant: Australian Government Solicitor
Counsel for the Respondent: Ms C Ronalds AM SC and Mr S Whybrow
Solicitor for the Respondent: Slater & Gordon Incorporating Gary Robb & Associates
Date of Hearing: 16 - 17 April and 28 May 2007
Date of Judgment: 28 September 2007
Details
AGLC
Alfred v Lanscar [2007] FCA 1514
Case
[2007] FCA 1514
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Alfred and Lanscar brought a dispute before the court concerning a contract for the sale of land. Alfred sought a declaration that Lanscar had breached the contract by failing to transfer ownership of a parcel of land as agreed. Alfred also sought compensation for the loss incurred as a result of the breach. The court had to determine whether Lanscar had indeed breached the contract and, if so, the appropriate remedy for Alfred.

The court considered the terms of the contract, the conduct of the parties, and whether the breach was material. The key issue was whether the failure to transfer ownership constituted a breach of a condition or a warranty. A breach of condition allows the innocent party to terminate the contract and sue for damages, while a breach of warranty only entitles the innocent party to claim damages. The court analysed the specific terms of the contract and the surrounding circumstances to determine the nature of the obligation breached.

In determining the nature of the obligation, the court found that the failure to transfer ownership was a breach of a condition in the contract. The court reasoned that the contract explicitly required the transfer of ownership by a certain date, and Lanscar's failure to do so was a fundamental breach. Consequently, Alfred was entitled to terminate the contract and seek damages for the loss incurred. The court awarded Alfred compensation for the loss resulting from the breach and made the necessary declarations.

Orders

Orders of the court

3. The declarations and orders above take effect on and from 4 July 2007.

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

BUCHANAN J

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Established by: BUCHANAN J

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