Fencott, B.E. & Assoc. Pty Ltd v Eretta Pty Ltd

Case [1986] FCA 370


NOT CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

)

1

WESTERN AUSTRALIA DISTRICT REGISTRY

)

No.

8 3 of 1986

)

DIVISION

GENERAL

)

BETWEEN :

BRYAN E. FENCOTT AND

ASSOCIATES PTY LIMITED

Applicant

ERETTA PTY LIMITED

First Respondent

AND:

-

JOHN COOKE

Second Respondent

EX-TEMPORE REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

BURCHETT J .

This application relates

to three groups of amendment

sought to be made to the Statement of

Claim. The flrst concerns

the basis of the claim against the

first respondent and is not

opposed. The second concerns a proposed claim under s . 5 2 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 against the companies sought to be joined as third, fourth and fifth respondents by amendment of the Statement of Claim. It is conceded that that claim is already

barred by the limitation provision

In the Trade Practices

Act

1974,

s . 8 2 ( 2 ) ,

and

the

amendment is opposed. After

some

argument, counsel for the applicant

indicated that he did not any

longer press this

amendment.

2.

The third group of amendments is sought to raise a claim

knowingly or with constructive knowledge, parties to breaches of

fiduciary duty which are alleged against the first respondent,

and are themselves liable as fiduciaries. It is not suggested

that I should refuse this group of amendments as clearly outside

the accrued jurisdiction of the Court, nor do I think I should

refuse them on that ground. What was argued was that the

drafting was unnecessarlly confusing and the actual claims made

were unclear. After some argument, I stood the matter over to

today to enable a re-draft of the proposed amended Statement of

that the proposed third, fourth and fifth respondents were, category and eliminating those in the second.

I have now received

a re-draft of pages

8 to 11

inclusive of the previously submitted further amended Statement of Claim. The further amended Statement of Claim in question has been marked as Exhibit A in this application, and I will have the substituted pages 8 to 11 marked as Exhiblt B.

I

allow the amendments as set forth

in Exhibit A

substituting the pages

in Exhibit B for the corresponding pages

in Exhibit A.

I

certify that this and the

preceding one ( 1 ) page

are a

true copy

of the Reasons for

Judgment herein of his Honour

Mr. Justice Burchett.

C L &dai

..

Associate

Dated: 20 August, 1986.

Details
AGLC
Fencott, B.E. & Assoc. Pty Ltd v Eretta Pty Ltd [1986] FCA 370
Case
[1986] FCA 370
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Federal Court of Australia, the case of Fencott, B.E. & Assoc. Pty Ltd v Eretta Pty Ltd was heard. The Applicant, Bryan E. Fencott and Associates Pty Limited, sought to amend its Statement of Claim against Eretta Pty Limited, the First Respondent, and additional companies sought to be joined as the third, fourth, and fifth respondents. The nature of the dispute involves proposed amendments to the Statement of Claim, specifically addressing the basis of the claim against the first respondent, a claim under the Trade Practices Act 1974 against the additional respondents, and a claim related to breaches of fiduciary duty.

The legal issues before the court included whether the proposed amendments were permissible and if the claims were within the court's jurisdiction. The court had to determine whether to allow the amendments, particularly in light of the argument that the drafting of the proposed claims was confusing and unclear. The court also had to address the issue of the proposed claim under the Trade Practices Act 1974, which was opposed due to being barred by the limitation provision in the Trade Practices Act 1974, s. 82(2).

The court allowed the amendments to the Statement of Claim as set forth in Exhibit A, substituting the pages in Exhibit B for the corresponding pages in Exhibit A. The court found that the proposed third, fourth, and fifth respondents were not of the same category and eliminated those in the second. The court certified that the reasons for judgment were a true copy and allowed the amendments, addressing the concerns regarding the clarity and drafting of the claims. The court's decision allowed the Applicant to proceed with the amended claims against the First Respondent, while the proposed claim under the Trade Practices Act 1974 against the additional respondents was not pursued due to being barred by limitation.

Orders

Orders of the court

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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