Firona Pty Ltd v Hersfield Holdings Pty Ltd

[1981] FCA 2

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m l s l c a d i n g a n d d e c e p t i v e s t a t e m e n t s nade i n t r a d e 2 n d

cmmerce b y t h e r c . p ? I ? d e n t Wills a c t i v e f o r a n d on h e h n l f o f

Murragon;: a n d H e r s f l e l d C o r p o r s t l o n . It i s a l l c q c r l t h a t by

t h e s a l d c o n t r a v e n t i o n s t h e a p p l i c a n t s s u f f e r e d l o s s a n d

damap;e in t k l n t . or! 4 P p c e m b e r 1 9 7 9 F i r o n a e n t e r e d i n t c 3 lcilsc?

f r o n Murr::eorlG o f shop p r e n i s e s k n o w n a s No. 1 1 8

P a r k m o r e / K e y s b o ~ ~ o u g h S h o p p l n p ; C e n t r e , C h e l t e n h a m R o a d ,

K e y s b o r o u g h i n t h e S t a t e o f V i c t o r l a f o r a term of t w o y e a r c

c o f n n e n c i n g ~ on 11 December 1973 a n d o n t h e same d a y t h e

a p p l y c a n t s P e t e r T h e o d o r e a n d B e v e r l e y L o r r a i n e T h e o d o r e

j o l n t l y a n d s e v e r a l l y g u a r a n t e e d t h e d u e p e r f o r v a n c e by

F i r o n a of a l l i t s c o v e n a n t s a n d o b l l g a t l o n s u n d e r t h e l e a s e .

RPl.lef cl.ixmed I n e a c h of t h e s e a c t l o n s i n c l u d e s dnn iagcs ,

1 , c s c i s s l o n of t h e l ea se o r a d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t t h e r c l e v a t l t

l c a s e h a s b e e n r e s c i n d e d , a d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t t h e R u a r a n t , c e

h a s ceased t o be e n f o r c e a b l e a n d o t h e r relj .ef .

I n d c t l o n V G No. 58 1 9 8 0 o f H e r s f i e l d h a s

i n s t i t u t e d a c ros s claim a g a l n s t t h e a p p l i c a n t s i n that,

proceeding s??k1nt: jtl:gment a c a l n s t Firo:. 1 f o r r c n t p a y a b l e

u n d e r t h e l e a s e t h e 7 U b J e C t o f t h a t a c t l o n a l l e c e d t o b e

u n p a l d a n d against Pe te r a n d R c v e r l e y L o r r a l n c T h e o d o r e f o r

t h e a m o u n t o r s u c h r e n t u n d e r t h e g tmrantec .

I n a c t i o n V G No. 5 9 of 1 9 8 0 M u r r a g o n g h a s

~ n s t ~ t u t c ? a c r o s s c la i in a g a i n s t t h e a p p l l c a n t a I n t h C l t

p r o c e e d l n ( : s F ; P c . k l n p J u d g n e n t a g a i n s t F l r o n a f o r r e n t p a y a b l e

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J n J u n e 1 9 7 9 s u b u r b s . F i r o n a a l r e a d y o ~ c u p l e d S I X shop

p r e i l i s e s i n M e l b o u r n e I t c o n d u c t e d b u s l n e s s f r o n

t h o s e s h o p s f u n c t i o n i t was, b y s e c u r l n g t h e s e r v i c e s o f p ~ r s o n s w h o s r

b y t h e m s e l v e s , t h e i r w i v e s o r e m p l o y c e s , t o

man t h e s h o p s . T h e p e r s o n e n g a g e d I n r e s p e c t of e a c h Sh@D

would rece ive o r d e r s from c u s t o m e r s f o r b l l n d s t o be s u p n l i r d

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a n d f i t t e d p r e m i s e s , a t t h e i r p r e m i s e s , a t t e n d a t t h e c u s t o m e r ' s

n e a s u r e t h e .nx?dow?.., n a v e t h c bl1nrl.c. made t o the

p r o p e r s i z e a n d b e c o m e e n s u r e t h e y e n t i t l e d were s u p p l l e d and f l t t o d . Re

w o u l a t h e r e b y t o a c o m m i s s i o n p a y a b l e t o hLm

b y F i r o n a . I n a b o u t J u n e 1 9 7 9 Mr. T h e o d o r e became 1 n t . e r e s t e d

i n t h e i d e a o f a c q u i r i n g a d d i t i o n a l s h o p o r e m i s p s t o b c

o p e r a t e d a c c o r d l n g t o F i r o n a ' s e s t a b l l s h r d m c t h o d s . He s a l d

t h a t h e i n t e r e s t e n t e r t a i n e d t h e Idea o n l y v e r y t e n t a t i v e l y . More

vas p r o m p t e d h o w e v e r b y a c o n v e r s a t i o n b e t w e e n

T h e o d o r e a n d o n e P a r k m o r e M l c k l e s who was well known t o T h c o d o r e and

was m a n a g e r o f t h e s h o p p i n n M u r r a g o n g . c e n t r e . Thl:: was a

p r o j e c t of t h e r e s p o n d e n t ?'hr. o r i g l n a l c e n t r e

c a l l e d P a r k m o r e h a d b e e n o p e n e d s o m c t ' n p b e f o t . e t h 1 r

c o n v e r s a t i o n a n d t h i s was known t o T h e o d o r e . [ l i s c o n p n n y had

a s t a n d "promotion" was t h e r e o w i n g a p r o m o t i o n w e e k r d r l y i n 1 0 7 s a n d t h e

c u i t e s u c c e s s f u l . T h e p r o l e e t m i - n t ~ . o r ~ e d b y

M i c k l e s t o T h e o d o r e was a n e x t e n s l o n o f t h e o r i s l n a l . ceni re

a n d was c a l l e d " t h e M a r k e t Stage". Mr. V:.rkles t o l d Mr.

T h e o d o r e t h a t o n e Wills w a s t h e l e t t i n y ,?[;ent f o r t h e

P a r k m o r e p r o J e c t .

R

On 2 3 J u l y 1 9 7 9 F i r o n a K+S I n f o m c d t ha t t h e IC.>SP

f o r t h e P a r k m o r e s i t ? wou ld be fo rwdrdec ! lf a r e n t a l d c p o s l t

Of 8866.67 was p a l d t o M u r r a g o n g . It, ,does :lot. a ~ , p e : ~ r :dh;.thcr

t h i s d e p o s i t w a s p a i d b u t according t o Thc,odor-e's c v L d c n ~ : e

t h e l e a s ? w a s f o r r r a r d e d t o F l r o n a on 26 Juiy 1 9 7 9 .

T h e l e a s e o f t h e Deer P a r k S h o p a n d 1 t.s

a c c o m p a n y l n g g u a r a n t e e were e x e c u t , e d ; ,nd signed c,n ? 8

N o v e m b e r 1 9 7 9 a n d t h e c o r r e s p o n d ~ n g d o c u m e n t s I n resnecl o f

P a r k m o r e were e x e c u t c d a n d slgnerl on 11 D c c c n b e r lQTQ. The.

C o r r e s p o n d l n R d o c u m e n t s i n r e s p e c t of t h e s h o p at Chirneldt

P a r k were e x e c u t e d a n d s ~ . g n e d o n 7 4 S-ptcml-c.r 1F7Q.

As p u t i n i t i a l l y , on n e h a l f o f t h c a p p l x c T L n t s ,

T h e o d o r e ' s a t t l t u d e t o t h e Deer F a r L a n d I'?rl.:norc p ~ ' o p o s ~ t l o n

a n d I n d e e d a l s o t o C h i r n s i d e Par!.: was simply t h a t . b e h a a

n e v e r b e e n a n a 1.ever was, u n t l l t h e c r i t i c a l c o n v e r s a t l s . 1

w l t h M o r r i s s p y a n d W111 S , p o s ~ t l v c l y a t t r a c t e d tr, t h v n , t .hn t

a l t h o u g h w i t h h l o a u t h o r l t y , Mr. Pcan h:!d ; . .np l~er ! i 'or t h e

s h o p s i n t h o s e i n t e r e s t c e n t r e s T h e o d o r ? h n d , from th;l t t l m c ,

p o s l t , l v e l y l o s t ~n t h e n 2 n d xrobld n.?ve? h2vc ta1:cc

l ea ses o f t h e shops had i t n o t bcen th: l t 1-11.. Vorr.i.ss-:\r 111 t,5c

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case o f Deer P a r k a n d Mr. \!I 1 1 S 1 q tl!? L A S P o- P ~ I ' ~ I o ! - c

s t a t e d t h a t all t h e o t ! !e r chops i n t h e -'::(.v.,nt cnnt PP'S were

10.

let, t h a t u n l e r s F i r o n a t o o k t h e s h o p l t h a d a p p l i c c i i ' o r 1 t,

w o u l d b e l e t t o a c o m p e t x t o p a n d t h a t t h e c e n t r e w a s c o l n p t o

b e a " b o o m e r " . T h e o d o r e sa ld i n e v i d e n c c t h a t ~ C ~ , H P C I I Jul-y

a n d t h e Movrmber c o n v e r s a t l o n s r e f o r 1 - e d t o , n o t h i n g w h i r l 1 o c e u r r e d 111 l a t e

i n e a r l y D e c e m b e r h a d h a p p e n e d lt? r n l 2 t 1 o n

t o t h e p r o p o s e d l e a s e s . R u t i t a p p e a r s t h a t , t.hc ::j t u a t l o n

was n o t r e a l l y s o s i m p l e . It i s c l e a r t h a t i n t h e m o n t h s

b e t w e e n t h e s i g n i n g o f December t h e a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r l e a s e s , l r l d t h ? l r

e x e c u t i g r : i n November and 1979 r e l v v a n t e v e n t s h a d

h a p p e n e d . T h e o d o r e e x h i b i t e d c o n s l d e r a b l e p o s l t i v c > . n t e , - c s t

i n t h e t h r e e centres . On 24 S e p t e m b e r F l r o n a d u l y cornpl.@tcrl

t h e lease f o r t h e C h i r n s i d e l a t t e r c e n t r e v h l c h c r p e n e d or, 25

S e p t e m b e r . I n t h e p a r t o f August F I r o n 3 n e E o t , l n t c d ;I

r e d u c t l o n of t!ie l e a s e h o l d p e r l o d i n c u r r e d f o r Pari;nlore rrom SIX v c a r , ?

t o t h r e e . I n S e p t e n b e r F l r o n a r x p e n n e s ln nav inp :

s h o p f l t t l n g p l a n s p r e p a r e d f o r t h e w o r k t o he c a r r i d o u t a t

Deer P a r k a n d P a r k m o r e . I n a d d l t , l o n , l l t h o u g h h e st,;ltes 'ihst.

h e once t o l d t h e s o l l c ~ t o r f o r t h e Deer P a r k c e n t r e t h a t h e

h a d d z c l d p d n o t t o e n t e r i n t o t h e least- h e a t n o t ? m e p ~ ~ t , p e ! ~

t o p a p e r t o t h a t e f f e c t . And in 1atc.r sl-aEes of t h c l e v l d c c c e

o f T h e o d o r e i t a p p e a r e d t h a t a t l e a s t d u r i n g c e r t a ~ n p e r l o r l s

b e t w e e n Augus t and November he was p o s l t i v e 1 . y ~ n l r e : e s t r d i n

t a k i n g t h e Dr.er P a r k a n d P a r l t m o r e s h o p s . And o f cou1-?e i:!lcn,

d u r l n g t h e s e st,emmed from h:s p e r i o d s , h ? was so i n t c r - a t c d , h ? - ~ n ' ( . r n s t

own Jude rnen t and ~ J Z S nat, k1nrll.?d by a n y

f a l s e s t a t e m r n t m a d e b y Mr. Morrissev o r Mt.. Wills. T h u s ,

t h e f r m e w o r k o f h i s case c h a n g e d . I t hpramrf a c ~ : ; P t h a r

1 1 .

Hls f i n a l p o s l L i o n s e e m e d t o b e t . a k P t h a t e v c n :I?

November 1979 ~t was h j s E e n u l n e i n t e n t i o ? t o t n c sl70ps

i n Deer P a r k a n d P ? r k m o ? e b u t it was a l r o h i s 1 n t c n t 1 o n t o

p o s t p o n e a f i n a l d e c i s l o n u n t i ; s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e c e n t r e s

were o p e n c d , a n d t h a t t h e e f f e c t of t h e s t a t e m e n L s h y

H o r r i s s e y and !dills w2s t o c h a n g e h i s m l n d s o t h a t F i r o n , >

e x e c u t e d t h e i e a s p s a t o n c e i n s t e a d s u f f e r e d o f w a i t i n g . J t. W:] S

i n e v l t a b l e t h a t T h e o d o r e ' s c r e d i t s o m e w h a t I n t h o s e

d e v e l o p m e n t s .

A n a l y s l s o f t h e r e t h e c v j d c n c c is n o t a c l c a r c u t

e x e r c j s c l a r e e l y b e c a u s e a r e u p t i e d e n d s a n d

c o n t r a d i c t i o n s . B u t t h e essence o f t,ile l n t e n d a p p l i c a n t ' s cas? wils

t h a t as of N o J h b e r 1 9 7 9 T h e o d o r e d i d n o t to procped

t h e n , w i t h t h e Deer P a r k l e a s e , " a r k m o r e a n d as o f P c c f r n b p r I Q 7 4 h &

d i d n o t i n t c n d t o p r o c c z d t h e n , w l t h t , h e l e a s e , 2nd

t h a t i n e a c h c a s r h e c n a n s e d h 1 3 m i n d b e c a u n c o f whdt hc W % S

t o l d b y a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e 1 a n d l . o r d . It 1s R P P C U l Z 1 1 '

f e a t u r e t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e r e i s n o s u ~ g e s t l o n the? . t!le t<.!n

r e p r e u e n t a t l v ~ c were a c l InR i n c o n c e r t . , ? n d t h c r - 9 I S evr'r.;

rcascn t o t h l n k t . h a t t h e y were acting a u l t r . l r ~ d ~ - p e n t e i ~ + . i v oi'

each o t h e r , e a c h o f t h e n t h e safic Z?P a l l e c e d t o h n v ~ user1 t h e sane

a r g u m c n t , s , t o l d b l a t s n t lle, r,nrAn3 3' t h a t , t h c c e n t r c

..,

I n qdesi lop wit:; f u l l y l e t , a n d u s e d the same t e r m 1 n o l o E y t o

d e : r c r i b c t,he p r o s p e c t s of t h e c e n t r e , nar*r . ly , t b t It llas

g o i n g t o b e a I'booincr". I t may b e s a l d a t o n c e t h q t T

c e r t a l n l g d o n o t a c c c p t t h a t t h l s t e rmlnol G E ~ wa,? u s e d . And

i t seems t o me t h a t T h e o d o r c ' s u s e o r t h e tcrm "boomF)r"

a s h a v i n g b r e n s a l d h 2 t h by Morrissey a n d 1411: s r a t h e r

l n d l c a t e s T h e o d o r e ' s l a c k o f r e g a r d f o r r e a l i t y o r p r e c l s l o n .

I h a v e t h e impression t h a t T h e o r l o r e h a d a sense o r

g r i e v a n c e c o n c e r n i n g t h e Deer P a r k a n d P a r , h o r e l c a s c s

b e c a u s e t h e y d i d n o t t u r n o u t a s well a s e x p e c t e d a n d ,

r l g h t l y o r w r o n g l y , c o n s i d e r e d himself J u s t l y c n t l t l e d t o

some r e m e d y . He f e l t , I t h l n k , t h a t b e c a u s e o f t h e

c l r c u m s t a n c e s h e must h a v e a v a l i d case. l3u5 h ~ s 1zwycr.s

c o u l d o n l y f o r m u l : i t , c this j n terms of alleged frauc! 01 the

p a r t of M o r r l a s e j . a n d Wllls, a n d s o , f r a u d ~t h a d t o b e , ar'e

h a d t o b e s w o r n i n v a ' r l o u s t o . Hut r e s p e c t s . t h e r e 1s an a i r o f un rea l1 t y a b o c t

t h e f r a u d

It i s c l e a r t h a t a t l e a s t I n F e h w n r ; r lQR0 Theodo1'e

f o l ? n d t h a t Deer P a r k in p a r t i c u l a r a n d F a r ! m o r c t o a l e s se r

e x t e n t were n o t d o l n g wel l . C e r t a ~ n l y a t t h a t s t a z e it, \!a::

well known t o T h c o d o r e a n d c e n t r e , Mr. Dean, h l s market l n p manace r ,

w l t h r e s p e c t T h e o d o r e t o e a c h t h a t i t ws n u t fully l e t .

d e v e l o p c d t h e i d e a t h a t t h e r e n t , a l s h e \gas p a y ~ n g

u n d e r t h e l e n s e s wer,? t o o h i g h a n d h ? d e - l & ? c d T O a t t e n p t , t o

n e g o t i a t e a r e d u c t i o r o f t h o s e - r : n t a l s . rut- t h ? s p u r p o s e hr.

. .. .

ncc..Zcd v a l i d a rgumen t s .

I He c o u l d a r g u e t h a t success fu l , h e h a d b e e n , t o l d t , h a t t h e

c e n t r e s w o u l d b e v e r y b u t as t o t h i s t h e a n s w e r

w o u l d p r o b a b l y b e t h a t It s u c c e s s f u l . was b e l l e v e d b y a l l c o n c e r n e d t h a t ,

t h e y w o u l d b e v e r y He cou!d a r g u e t h a t t h c r c

were c e r t a i n s h o p s a t Deer P a r k b e i n g a d v c r t l s e d a t a w e e k l y

r e n t a l o f $50. B u t as t o t h i s t h e answer was l i k e l y t o h e

t h a t t h o s e s h o p s were t h e small f o o d s h o p s i n an a r e a v e r y

d i f f e r e n t i n e v e r y way from t h a t o f t h e s h o p s l e t t o F i r o n a .

He c o u l d a r g u e t h a t h e h a d b e e n i n d u c e d t o t a k e t h e s h o p s b y

f r a u d . If t r u e , t h i s was a p o w e r f u l a r g u m e n t . It was

T h e o d o r e ‘ s case t h a t h e kncw t h a t Mr. Mills h a d to1.d Mr. D e a n

a n o u t r i g h t l l e t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t P a r k m o r e was f u l l y l e t , ,

a n d h e x p e n s i v e e k n e w t h a t b u t l ea se f o r t h a t l l e h e w o u l d r.ct h a v c t a k e n t h e

a t P e r k m o r e . Yet i t i s t c Mr. W~l.>s t h a t

T h e o d o r e a n d Dean t u r n t o asslst, thcm L ? t h e i ; . q u e s t f o r

n e g o t i a t e d l o w e r r e n t s , b o t h a t Deer P a r k a ~ d Far l tmore . E o t h

T h e o d o r e a n d Dean were a n d I n d e e d a r e , f u l l o f g r a t l t 1 : d e f o r

t h e e f f o r t s made by M r . Wills, t o b r i n g the111 I n t o u c h w i t h a

d i r e c t o r or d l r e c t o r s o f t h e l P n d l o r d s so t h a t t h e y 2 o u l d p u t .

t h e i r case f o r l o w e r rcn ts a n d i t i s c l e a r t h a t Mr. W~lls d.Ld

make g e n u i n e e f f o r t s I n t h l s r e s p e c t . He had al. t h a t tune no

n o t i c e t h a t T h e o d o r e 2 n d Dean c o n s i d - r e d h’m a s h ? ~ ~ ~ r . c t o 1 6 a

serious a n d c r l t l c a l ; l e . N e l t h e r T h e o d o r e nor W a n m a d e a n y

suggestion t o h l m :.hat t h e i r t r o u b l e s a t Pa r lmore , a t l e a s t ,

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were t o b e 1 a l d a+ h i c: d o o r . It rPma;n? P q u ~ . % t l n n l f h o t b p p ,

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leases	t o	g a i n	w h a t e v e r	b e n e f i t	c o u l d	b e	o b t a l n e d	f r o m	t h a t
p o l i c y .

As t o t h e a c t u a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s t o n t n l n l n c t h e

u n t r u e statements w h l c h T h e o d o r e s a i d were made l eases t3 h lm and

w h i c h i n f l u e n c e d h l m t o e n t e r i n t o t h e i t may b e

o b s e r v e d t h a t i n e a c h l ease case T h e o d o r e e x p r e s s e d a d e c i s i o n t o

en t e r i n t o t h e s ta tement b e f o r e t h e c r i t l c a l u n t w e s t a t e x c n t

n a m e l y t h e l e t , was made t o h im. c o v e r i n g t h e r e l e v a n t c en t r e b e i n g f u l l y

As M o r r i s s e y t o Deer P a r k , T h e o d o r e s a l d t h a t 111

N o v e m b e r t h e r e s p o n d e n t t e l e p h o n e d h i m s a y l n g t h a t

h e was a s o n - i n - l a w o f a f r i e n d of T h e o d o r e . ire e n t e r e d lrpon

a d i s c u s s i o n M o r r i s s e y p e r s o n a l o f a f f a i r s . Mr. T h e o d o r e s a i d

t h e n s a i d t h a t h e was r i n g i n g a b o u t t h e Deer P a r k

s h o p p i n g c e n t r e a n d w i s h e d t o know I f T h e o d o r e \.'a5 in te res ted

a n d t h a t h e , T h e o d o r e , s a i d t h a t h e was n o t i n t e r e s t e d .

Accor .ding t o T h e o d o r e t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n p r o c e e d e d a s

fo l lows:

' l . . . He s a i d , F e t e r , d o n o t wake a m l s t a k e ,

t h i s i s go ing t o b e a boomer . I t i s a

b e a u t l f u l s h o p p i n t : c e n t r e , i t 1s t h e c e n t r e . best i n

the western s u b u r b s . I t i s E o i n g t o a t t r a c t

35,003 p e o p l e i n t h e s h o p p l n e , The

a d v e r t i s i n g 1 s t r e n l e n d o u s 2 n d h e c a r r i e d o n

f o r q u i t e some t i v e a b a u t tb ls a n d l s a i d ,

y o u r e a l l y h o n e s t l y mean 3 t , P h i l ! . l p . tic s a l d ,

a n d t r u l y , t h a t 1 s tl .̂h' goor1 I t i s

go ing t o b e a n d s o I s a l d w e l l , w h a t d o we 30

from now o n . He s a i d y o u at'e a l1tt . le b i t

l a t e i n s i g n i n g y o u r l e a s e , h e sa13 lf you

a re p r e p a r e d t o wrl t e a c b c q u c and s e l d I t

down t o t h e c l t y , I wlll rpse rve c n a t s h o p

1 4 .

i f Wllls !?..Es b e e n s u c c e s s f u l I n a r r a n g i n g t h e l n t c r v l e w ,

Theodore and Dean wqu ld have t o l d t h e d l r e c t o r o f t h P a l l c [ ; t ? G

f r a u d u l e n t c o n d u c t o f Mr. Wills? F h t h e r t h e y d l d n o t j n t e n d

t o d o t h l s , o r t h e r e was a certair! p l q u a n c y I n t h e s l t u n t l o n ,

n a m e l y t h a t t h e y were enlisting t h e principal s e r v i c e s o f a t w h i c h Mr. Wj1l.s t o

arrallge a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h h i s t b c y w o u l d

a c c u s e h l n of f r a u d . T h e i n t e n t i o n m o r e l i k e l y e x p l a n a t i o n i s t h a t a t

t h e time n e l t h e r h a d a n y o f a l l e g i n g f r a u d a g a i ~ s t

Mr. Wllls b e c a u s e t h e r e h a d b e e n n o f r a u d o n h i s p a r t . E v e n

i n e v l d e n c e i n t h i s case t h e s o l i c i t u d e of Mr. Wllls i n

t r y l n g l t o a r r a n g e i n t e r v l e w s 1s s o l n e t h l n g j n r e s p e c t o f w h ~ c h

a p p e a r s	t o	e v o k e	c o n t i n u a l	g r a t i t u d e	o n
t h e h a r d l y f aces of b o t h

T h e o d o r e e n d D e a n . Mr. D e a n c o u l d b r i n p : h l m s e l f t o

s a y t h a t Mr. Wills h a d l i e d . T h e fo l lowing p a s s n p c from Hr.

D e a n ' s e v l d e n c e i s r c l c v a n t : -

' l . . . Well, I am basically a s a l e s m a n . T c o n s l d c r

Mr. Wills 1s t h e sdne. He - I p r o b a b l y

. f e l t t h a t he d l d n o t z c t u a l l y d e l i b e r a t , e l y

te1.1 nlc a b l a t a n t lle, h e may hzve gamblef3

a l i t t l e , s a y i n g t h h t thc p l a c e IS A l r e a d y

let - when i t i s , maybe j t IS - when 11,

Eets t he re - I t h l n k we - a l l s a l e s n c n

g a m h l c a l i t t l e b l t . No, I dxcl n o t

a c t d a l l y - t h e w o r d l l e >.S n o t t ' ~ ~ ~ : I l j ~ d

word t h a t I t h l n k s i , r c n g l y a b o u t . . T. ---

15 .

a n y b o d y . I d o n o t k n o w , t h a t i s n o t

s o m e t h i n g I w o u l d s a y . "

!

I t i s o b v i o u s t h a t i f r e n e g o t i a t l o n was t o be

a c h i e v e d g o o d g r o u n d s w o u l d h a v e b e e n e s s e n t i a l , a n d t h e bc:;t

g r o u n d w o u l d h a v e b e e n t h a t F i r o n a c o u l d w a l k o u t a v a i l a b l e OP t h p

g r o u n d of f r a u d . If i t h a d b e e n it was f o l l y n o t

t o use i t . T h e f r i e n d l l n e s s o f T h e o d o r e a n d b e a n w i t h Mr.

Wills a t t h e re levant p e r i o d , a p p e a r s t o me n o t t o h a v e b e e n

f e i g n e d . T h e y were g r a t e f u l t o Mr. Wllls. E u t I t I J O U l d h a v c

i

b e e n impossible a t t h a t time f o r T h e o d o r e t o h a v e h a d p;ood

f e e l i n g s t o w a r d s Mr. Wills i f h e was t h e f r a u d u l e n t p e r s o r ,

who h a d t h e s e u n f o r t u n a t e m i s l e d T h e o d o r e a n d t r a n s a c t i o n s . l n d u c e d h lm t o e n l . e r i n t o o n c of

Yet a t no time 1:; a n y h ~ n t

c o n v e y e d t o Mr. Wills t h a t h e , Mr. Wllls, is at, f a u l t , . And

i t i s c u r i o u s a l s o t h a t a l t h o u g h a t o n e s t age Dean t o l d W1.1ls

t h a t Mr. M i c k l e s h a d t o l d T h e o d o r e t h a t a l l t h e Wills s h o p s a t

P a r k m o r e	were	l e t ,	he	made	no	s u g g e s t l o n	t h a t	h a d sz:d
t h e same	t h i n g .

The same s o r t o f comment may b e m d e concer!i :ng t h e

a l l e g e d f r a u d o f M o r r l s s e y . Mr. T h e o d o r e made c? c a l l a t

M o r r i s s e y ' a o f f l c c al; Deer P a r k i n t h e m i d d l e of A p r i l 19&0 .

T h e o d o r e s a l d t h i s c a l l was made i n F e h r l l a r y h u t T t h i n k t h . 3

p r o p e r i n f e r e n c e f r o m a l l t h e e v l d e n c e 1s t h a t i t was mid

A p r i l . A t t h a t t i n s T h e o d o r e k n e w a u i t e wel l t h a t . t h e

s i t u a t i o n a t Deer P a r k was n o t g o o d . T h e s h o p h e had was f a r

t oo b i g even If b u s i n e s s was r e a s o n a h l P . I n t h e t h e n c ~ r r c n t

16.

c l r c u m s t a n c e s t h e h i g h r e n t f o r t h e v e r y u n p r o d u c t i v e shrl;>

was a c o n t , e m p l a t i n g b u r d e n . Ry t h a t s k a g e T h e o d o w h a d g o t t o t h e p o i n t un le s s o f

, o r e v e n d e c l d l n g u p o n a w a l k o u t he

n e e o t l a t e d a r e d u c t i o n 13 r e n t . T h e o d o r e s i i l d i n e v i d e n c e

t h a t w h e n h e e n t e r e d M o r r l s s e y ' s o f f i c e M o r r i s s e y was e n g a g e d

w i t h 2 p e r s o n who was a r g u i n g w i t h h l m aggressively, a n d t h a t

h e h a d l i t t l e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r d i s c u s s i o n w l t h M o r r l s s e y . He

s a i d t h a t M o r r i s s e y t o o k h i m i n t o T h e o d o r e , a n o t h e r r o o m , a s k e c ! ?lm

w h a t h i s h a p p e n i n g ? p r o b l e m was a n d t h a t h e , s a i d " W h a t i s

You s a i d w i t h a l l t h e s h o p s t h e r e w o u l d h e f a l r

t a k i n g s , i t M o r r l s s e y w o u l d b e t h e g rea tes t s h o p p i n g c e n t r e i n t h e

w o r l d . " a n d s a l d "Give me t h r e e o r f o u r d a y s . I

will d i s c u s s i t w i t h Mr. H e r s f i e l d a n d he b a c k w i t h you in

t h r e e o r f o u r d a y s . " . T h e r e o b v i o u s l y m u s t h a v e b e e n more t.0

t h e conve r sa t ion t h a n t h l s , b u t I t i s c lear t h a t n o t h i n p : was

s a l d t o M o r r i s x y t o c o n v e y t o h i m t h a t h e was a l l e E e d t o

h a v e c o m m i t t e d f r a u d b y s a y i n g a l l t h e Deer P a r k s h o p s were

l e t . A l t h o u g h n o t al.1 o f M o r r l s s e y ' s e v l d e n c e may c a r r y

c o n v i c t i o n ~n i t s e l f , 1 d o b e l i c v e t h a t MorrissrAy knew

n o t h i n g of a n y a l l e g a t i o n s a g a i n s t h lm p e r s o n a l l y , u n t , i l h e

r e c e i v o d t h e A p p l l c a t r o n i n t h i s a c t i o n .

On 13 J u n e T h e c d o r e w r o t e t o f ! p r . ; f l e l d a d v e r t ~ s r ~ ~ ~ c n t s C o r p o r a t . 1 o n

stat;cC t h a t a f t c r th:i t company's of p r e m l s e s

b e l n g o f f e r e d a t $53 p e r c o n f i r m e d w e e k , h e a n d nenn h a d c a l l e d o n

M o r r i s s e y , a n d t h a t M o r r i s s e y h e d t h s t t h c s n were

s h o p s a t t h e Erer P a r k c e n t r e . The l e t t e r s t a t c s f u r t . h c ?

.

t h a t , T h e o d n r e a n d D e a n c e n t r e h a d b e c a u s e : - t o l d M o r r i s s e y t h a t F l r o r i n : l : :>

v a c a t l n g	t h e
11 (1 ) you c e n t r e had an ad i n t h e p a p e r a d v e r ' t i s i l 1 . c t h e

f o r r e n t a l o f t h e same size s h o p as

o u r s f o r $50 .00 p e r w e e k o f whlch !!r.

M o r r l s s e y n e v e r d e n l e d ,

( 2 ) we were m i s l e d w h e n s 1 f ; n l n g t h e l ea se t h a t

y o u r c e n t r e was f u l l y l e t ,

( 3 ) half o f t h e c e n t r e i s I n a c t u a l f a c t n o t

o c c u p p ~ e d . 'I

The l e t t c r c o n t 1 n u s d : -

" T h e n y o u r Mr. M o r r i s s e y ' s a n s w e r was t o 11s

'Don ' t d o a n y t h i n g f o r t h e time b e i n g a n d

d o n ' t p a y a n y r e n t u n t i l I g e t i n t c u c h

w i t h y o u . I will g e t a n y o n e . " y o u a n a n s w e r f r an

h e a d o f f l c c . ' Today i s t h e 1 3 t h J u n e a n d

we A t t h i s s tage t h e	h a v e	n o t	h e a r d	f r o m
o n l y s t a t e m e n t m a d e t o a n v b o d y D y

T h e o d o r e o r Dean a s t o h a v i n e b e e n misled, a s t o a n y c c n t r e

b e i n g f u l l y l e t , w a s t h a t Mr. Micltles h z d sald t o Thc-odore

t h a t P a r k m o r e t h i s t o h im a t a w a s f u l l y l e t . T h e o d o r e s a i d t h a t Mickl ~s s ~ l d

Christmas P a r t y . Dean knc:d o f t h i s , a n d 2 s

m e n t i o n e d a b o v e , n e m e n t i o n e d It, t o Wllls a t some s t a g e .

It i s a comment o f some s i c n l f i c a n c e t h a t \ )hen t h e

allegation of m i s l e a d i n g c o n d u c t i s C'ormnl l y mad? 7 n 1 hr.

l e t t e r o f 13 CTat:c, a n d tt,e c o n d u c t a n d r e a c t i o n o f H o r r l s s e y

are a c e n t r a l fczt1:re o r t h e c o n t e n t s o f t n e l e t t e r and w1ic.n

t h e a l l c g z t i o n is b e l n g p u t f o r w a r d 8 s a Rrcurici f o r r e l i e f ,

t h a t c o m m u n i c a t i o n c a n be s e e n z s ont? p..c311!.iarly ap t , Lo

. ..

.J .

1 8 .

c o n t a i n a l s o a m x l e a d i n g s t a t e m e n t t h a t 1 t was M o r r ~ s s e y who had

c o ~ n ~ t + c . i t h e c o n d u c t , n a m e l y t o l d t h c r e 1 c - v r n t

i l e . I t i s tcj b e n o t e d t h a t item 3 i n t h e 1 c t t - r m=s s o

e x a g g e r a t e d a s t a t e m e n t o e r i o u s l y . t h a t i t c o u l d h 8 r d l y h a v e b e e n

e x p e c t e d t o b e t a k e r ? I n a c t u a l f a c t t h e cent ] .?

h a d a t l e a s t 80 p e r c e n t u m of s h o p s l e t w h i c h c c m p r i s e d 00

p e r centurn of f l o o r space . T h l s l e t t e r o f l ? J u n e w.?s t ,he

s e c o n d tlme d w r i t t e n allegation of m i s l e a d i n g c o n < ! u c t 173::

m a d e b y T h c o d o r c a g a l n s t t h e L a n d l o r d , t h e f l rs t b c i n E a

l e t t e r of 30 May 1 9 8 0 . T h a t l e t t e r was wr i t tcn b y T h e o d o r e ' s

s o l i c l t o r , Mr. T r e v o r C o h e n c o m p a n i e s . t h e t h e n t o solicitors

representing t h e r e s p o n d e n t T t was I n t h e

f o l l o w i n g	t e rns :
"Dear S i r s ,
Re: F l r o n n P t y . L t d . & Ors a t s . M u r r a ~ o n f :

Nomlnees P t y . L t d .

-- -

* We w i s h t o a d v i s e t h a t o u r c l l e n t -

i n s t r u c t t h a t I t i s a t e n a n t o f t h r e e

p r e m i s e s ow:1ed b y y o u r c l l e n t in d l f ' f e r e n t ,

s h o p p l n g c e n t r e s a n d t h a t In re la+ , lQn t o a l l

t h r e e premises t h e y werr a d v l n e d p r z o r t o

e x e c u t l n p ; Leases , t h a t t h e c e n t r e s were f u l - l y

l e a s e d . S u b s e q u e n t l y i t was d i s c o v e ~ - e r ' t h a t

t h e c e n t r e s were f a r from f u l l y l ca scd m d 12

some ca.?es more t h a n h a l f t h e s h o p s vere

v a c a n t . P S a r e s u l t , we a r r ~ n s t r u c t e d t h a t

d i s c u s s l o n s h a v e t a k e n p l a c e b e t w o c n o u r

r e s p e c t i v e c l l e n t s r e g a r d l n l : a r e n e E o t l a t i o n

o f t h e r cn tz l as i t a p p e a r s t h a t s n o p ? 111

e a c h nf t!.; c e n t r ? s a r e now bc?inl: o f f c r c d

l easc at a r e n t a l o f a p p r o e m a i e l y oqe f l f t t !

o f t h a t , w h l c h o u r c l i e n t 1s c l l r , - . t ~ n t l y p a v l n w .

We a d v i s e t h a t s h o u l d you18 c l i e n t t :ot be

pr t 'p?rcd f o d l s c o n t i . n u e t h c s l x ~ ~ * v r : e t . r l ~ n ~ s and

r e n c p o f - l a t c r e n t a l i n respect- o f t h e thrrAe

p r e y l r - r ;:c hcvc i n o t r u c t l o n c t o cr;.ly t o

19.

t h c F c d e r n l C o u r t u n d e r t h e T r a d e Pi-act lces

Act p i ~ r s l ~ a n t t o S e c t i o n 53A f o r misleading

c o n d u c t	111	a c c o r d a n c e	with	. ? e c t l o n	5 2
t h e r e o f .

P l e a s e l e t u s h a v e y o u r a d v l c e w l t h l n 7

d a y s . I t

As t o t h e l e t t e r i t i s t o b c o b s c r v e d ,

-

( a ) t h e r e f c rcnce t o " t h e s c p r o c c e d i c f ; ~ " 1s t o

C o u n t y C o u r t a c t i o n s c o m n e n T c r l a g a i n s t t h e

i

a p p l i c a n t s f o r t h e a m o u n t , o f r e n t u n p a i d i n

r e s p e c t of t h e s h o p a t C h i r n s l d e , Deer P a r k

a n d Par1:more c e n t r e s w h i c h t h c a p p l i c a n t s

h a d f z i l e d t o p a y ;

( b ) t h e m j s l e d d l n g c o n d u c t r e l l e d on 1s t h a t

b c f o r c e n t e r i n g I n t o t h e 1en:r.s in 1-Pr .pcct

of C h i r n s i d e P a r k , Decr P a r V and Park tnor r ,

T h e o d o r e h a d b e e n f a l s e l y 111fo rn~-d ti-,at

e a c h o f t h o s e c e n t r e s rras fL:ll;- :eascAtl;

217.

However , ~t was e x e c u t e d o n 211 S e p t e a b e r 1 7 7 4 2nd t h e c e n t r -

o p e n e d o n 25 S e p t e m b e r .

Ii i s a q u e s t i o n how Mr. Cohen came t o ; n c l u d e

a l l e g a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g C h i r n s i d e P a r k In h i s l e t , t , e r o f 3 0

M a y . T h e s d o r e i n s t r u c t l o n s . s c i d t h a t Kr. C o h z n r r i s u n d c r s t o o d h ~ s

Kr. Cohen s a i d t h a t was not, so a n d t h a t t h r

l e t t e r o c c l ? . r a t e ! y r e p r e s e n t e d h l s ~ n s t r u c t l o n s . I a c c e p t Nr. r e f l e c r z

C o h e n ' s evidence. To irnrnoderzte my m i n d t h e ~ n c l d e n t

T h e o d o r r ' s c a p z c l t y f o r d n d i r r e s F o n z 3 - b l e s c t l o c

uher. i n pl ; rsul t , of s o t n e t h l n g t o i s s u e s w h l c h h e cor.zldcrs h i m z c l f '

e n t i t l e d . I n r e l a t l o n t o t h e i n t h l s case s u c h r?

c a p a c i t y goes d l r e c t l y t o q r e d i b ~ l l t y .

It is c o n v n n l e n t a t t h l s s t a g e t o n e n t l o n o t h p r

mat ters gOit-*g t o credit,. By h i s summons d a t e d 114 J u l y 1990

i n t h e C o u n t y C, u r t p r o c e e d i n e s c o n c e r n l n [ : 11npa;d r e n t f o r

t h e P a r k m o r e shop T h e o d o r e swore t h a t t h e formal lease 1!1

c o n n e c t i o n w l t h t h e t e n a n c y was exc.cl1ted b y ? 7 l r o n a I n 2 u l y

1979 a n d F i r o n a " d e c i d c d n e g o t i a t i o n s against t a k l n g t h i s 1c;:;e". B u t ;n

f a c t , F i r o p , a l n s t l t u t e d t,o chlallgc t h e t a r n o f t h y

l e a s e f r o m s i x y e a r s t o t h r e e y e a r s , 2 n d t'r,.: c n a n g e va?

a g r e e d t o OF o r b e f o r e 24 Augus t 1979. I n t h e e a r l y s t a g e r ,

o f h l s e v l d r n c b T h e o d o r e claimed t h a t l - , ~ or,!? ap??ovw! o f

Dean s l g n l n g apullc,lt Lons f o r leases of t h e sllons ? r ) t h e

t h r e e c e n t r e s b c c a u u e o f "prcjddit-lp", i.o t o r,psak., by Kr.

Mlcktes , a n d t h a t hc f o r g o t a h o J t t h e n . h a v l n r no i n t e n t l o l l

2 1 .

of c o m p l e t i n g t h e t r a n s a c t i m s . I d o n o t a c c e p t t h l s . To

a p p l y f o r m a l l y s u b s t a n t i a l f o r t h e leases w i t h a l l terms i n c l u d l n g

r e n t s s t a t e d i n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n , , a n d t o r e c e i v e

formal a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n s , a c c o m p a n l e d t h e n o r

s h o r t l y a f t e r w a r d s b y d e l i v e r y t o F l r o n a of t h e a c t u a l

l eases , w i t h r e q u e s t s f o r s o l i c i t o r s fees a n d b u s i n e s s a d e p o s l t , i s

n o t s o m e t h i n g t h a t a p r a c t i c a l a n d s u c c e s s f u l man

w o u l d b e l i k e l y t o f o r g e t . I t is p o s s i b l e t h a t , T h e o d o r e

w o u l d d e l a y s i g n i n g u n t i l t h e l a s t moment a s a mat ter o f

b u s i n e s s p r a c t i c e . He d i d t h i s w i t h r e s p e c t t o C h i r n s l d e

P a r k w h i c h h e c e r t a i n l y d i d n o t f o r g e t b u t c o m p l e t e d on t h e

v e r y l a s t d a y b e f o r e t h e o p e n i n g . I t i s of c o u r s e a

q u e s t i o n , why g o a b o u t o n w i t h C h i r n s i d e P a r k Parkmore w h i c h was sf unknovn

q u a l l t y a n d f o r g e t w h i c h was k n o w a n d was

r e g a r d e d as t h e b e s t o f t h e t h r e e p r o p o s i t i o n s ? B u t o f

c o u r s e P a r k m o r e was n o t f o r g o t t e n . T h o u g h t was g i v e n t o i t

i n r e l a t i o n t o r e n e g o t i a t l o n of t h e term of t h e l e e s e . Deer

P a r k d o e s f i t t e r s J.D. n o t seem t o h a v e b e e n f o r g o t t e n b e c a u s e s h o p

P r o v a n & Co. v i s i t e d Deer P a r k b e t w e e n l 9 a n d 28

S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 9 a n d s u b m i t t e d a q u o t e , a p p r o v e d b y Mr. D e a n ,

f o r m e a s u r i n g t h e p r e m i s e s a n d d r a w i n g p l a n s f o r v a r i o u s

f i t t i n g s a t t h e Deer P a r k s h o p .

T h e r e was much c ross e x a m i n a t l o n o n the i n i t i a l

i n s i s t e n c e b y T h e o d o r e t h a t p a s s a g e s h e was n o t i n t e r e s t e d In t h e

p r o j e c t s . T h e f o l l o w i n g are r e l e v a n t t o t h e

a s s e s s n e n t t o T h p o d o r e ' s reliability a s a b J i t , r l ? s s , t h u s : -

22.

"Is i t y o u r p r a c t i c e t o s i e n a p p l j c a t l o n s f o r

s h o p s a t s h o p p i n g centres when you a r e n o t

i n t e r e s t e d	i n	t a k l n g	t h e	hops?	---	V e r y
llluch SO.

So y o u s i g n a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r s h o p s f o r a n y t h l n p :

as a h o b b y ? --- You s a i d t h i i t .

I am a s k i n E y o u ? --- How c a n 1 a n e w e r a q u e s t l o n

w h e n y o u p u t t h e a n s w e r b e f o r e ?

You s a i d i n t e re s t b e f o r e t h a t i n J u l y 19' ;q v o u h a d n o

i n e x p a n d i n g t h e number o f r c t a l l

o u t l e t s y o u h a d ? --- T h a t 1s r i g h t .

You agree i n J u l y 1 9 7 9 y o u a p p l i e d f o r F s r k r n o r c ? t h r e e

s h o p s a t Deer P a r k , C h l r n s l d e a n d

--- We were a s k e d t o a p p l y .

Do you a l w a y s a p p l y f o r s h o p s w h e n s o m c b o d y a s k s

you t o a p p l y ? --- U s u a l l y , why not,?

You a p p l y f o r s h o p s b e c a u s r y o u r e t a i l h a v e o u t l e l . ~ ? --- a n I n t e r e s t

i n e x p a n d l n g y o u r Not

i n t h a t c a se , b e c a u s e I wa3 s o l i c i t e d .

Dld you d o I t f o r a f a v o u r t o Mr. Mlckles ' , ---

No, I was s o l i c i t e d by Mr. N l c k l e s t h e same

a s I was r e - s o l i c i t e d b y Mr. P n l l l i p

M o r r l s s c y .

And t h u s ,

"You s a y y o u

d i d a p p l i c n t l s n ? --- T h a t n o t know you had made an o f f c r ,

bslt you d i d know tha t , you had xzde c?n

i s r i g h t .

And a n o f f e r , a p p l i c a t i o n c o u l d be v e r y much l l k e an

c o u l d i t not ,? --- i t l o o k s t h a t way

t o d a y t o me.

When you Rot t h e l e a s e you knew t h e n t h a t t h e

p e o p l e t o whom y c u h a d mar?r the a p ~ ! 1-cati on

t h o u g h t t h a t , y o u r e a l l y m t z n t IL slid kere

~ o 1 n . q on w ~ t h t h e p r o p o s i t i o n ? --- Yes.

I u n d e r s t a n d y o u g o t t h a t :case a fer! w r c ~ k s af t .cr

you mnrlc t h e a p p l i c a t ~ o n ? --- Y n s .

Aad t h e ledse cvmc irom !4>dci : ; t ; i3ut.ier C1de1. &

.

23.

Craham, 1 s t h a t s o ? --- Yes.

I u n d e r s t a n d y o u t.0 s a y t h a t h a v l n l : g o t t h e l e a s e

y o u r a n g up somebody? --- T h e y r a n g me u p .

When y o u g o t t h e lease y o u d i d n o t h i n g ? --- No.

Then sometme a f t e r t h a t t h e s o l i c l t o r s rarlf:

y o u a n d

s a i d : l e a s e ' ? ' W h a t a b o u t s l g n l n g t h a t

--- T h a t is r l g h t .

B u t how document? l o n g was t h a t a f t e r y o u r e c e i v e d t h c

--- T h r e e or f o u r w e e k s .

Do I u n d e r s t a n d y o u t o s a y p l a l n l y t h a t a t t h e s t a g e y c u

s a i d t o 1 s a i d t o them we t h e m q u l t e t h a t y o u were

n o t g o i n g on w l t h t h e p r o p n s l t l o n ? --- No 9

w r e t o l d t h a t we were

g o i n g t o b e c a l l e d i n a n d d l s c u s s t h e

matter of t h e premlscs a n d s o o n .

So you to?.d t h e m t h a t y o u were n o t p ; o i n g t o s i g n

t h e lease t h e n b e c a u s e y o u t h o u g h t some

f u r t h e r d l s c u s s i o n s h a d t o t a k e p l a c e ? ---

E x a c t l y .

So a t t h a t s t n g e y o u p r o p o s l t l o n ? h a d n o t dec idcsd n o t t o go o n

w l t h t h e --- T h a t 1.5 right."

a n d a g a i n ,

" A n d . t h a t B l i n d s , n o t e , t h a t l i t t l e car -d from A l p h a

a s k s f o r t h e leasc! t o be r e d u c e d t o

t h r e e y e a r s o r c o n f l r m s It 1s t h r n e y e a r s

a n d a s k s f o r a r e - a d j u s t m e n t s t a m p d u t y

bill? --- T h a t i s r i E h t .

S u b s e q u e n t l y a r e - a d j u s t e d s t a m p d u t y b l l l was

s e n t ? --- T h a t i s r l g h t .

What I am p u t t i n g t o y o u i s t h a c f a r from s a y l n e (

we a re n o t i n t e r e s t e d and we were s l g n l n $

d o c u m e n t s J u s t b e c a u s e Elr. M i c k 1 . e ~ a s k e d

u s , y o u were r e - n e g o t l a t l n n t h e term of t h e

lease a t P a r k m o r e a t t h e e n d of August,? ---

You were r l n g l n R me e v e r y c l a y , a n n o y l n p , n e ;

you bJOlAld n o t y o u ? g e t o f f t h e p h o n e .

I was n o t r l n g l n g --- You werc n o t t h e ; ? a n

b u t . H e r s f l e l d D e v e l o p m e n t s were r i r , g l n R m?

e v e r y s e c o n d d a y . I s a l d : i s ~ k , do not Y O U

UnGers t an t l I d o not. warlt L O go on , r l t h I t?

2u.

T h e y j u s t r a n g a n s w e r ? e v c r y d a y . T h e y w a n t e d t h e

l e a s e s l g n e d , a l l right? Does t h a t g l v e

y o u a n

No, i t d o e s n o t .

My q u e s t l o n was much s i m p l e r . If you were s a y i n g

n o , why a i d y o u , i n t h e latt-,rr p a r t o f

A u z u s t n e g o t l a t e t h e term of +,he l e a s e f o r

P a r k m o r e from s i x y e a r s t o t h r e e y e a r s ? ---

I s a i d T- d i d n o t w a n t t o t . a k e t h e l e a s e ;

I t i s t o o l o n g .

S o m e b o d y o w a n t n y o u r b e h a l f sa1.d t o s o r . e b o d y l o o k , we

d o n o t s i x y e a r s , WC w a n t t h r e c ? ---

T h a t 1 s r l g h t , we s a i d t h a t .

Then why d i d y o u s a y t h a t a t a l l ? --- y o u w a n t e d E e c a u s e t h r e e i f you

w a n t e d n o n e we s a l d no

t o them a h u n d r e d t i n e s c n d t h e y l u s t k e p t

c o m i n g b a c k o n t h e p h o n e . T h e y wou ld n o t

t a k e n o for a n answer.

1 d o n o t r e a l l y see i n s t e a d how t h a t m a k e s YOU s a y t h a t

y o u w o u l d s o 1 1 c l t , o r t h r e e o f s i x ? --- The

t h a t r a n g me e v e r v lease I w i l l jump d a y s a ~ d , 3 f

y o u d o t h a t .. n o t s i g n t h e oul,

o f	t h e	Window,	and	he	was	go in^	or? l l k e
.

Why d i d p l e a s e wrlte y o u n o t g e t y o u r s e c r e t a r y a n d s a y ,

t o t h e s e p e o p l e a c d sap 2leqse

:o n o t r i n g u p a n y m o r e ; we d o n o t p r o p o s e

. t o g o o n w i t h t h e lease? --- T s h o u l d h p v e

d o n e t h a t , y o u r H o n o u r .

Why d i d b e h a l f . It y o u n o t do t h a t ? --- It was n c g l e c t on m r

blso ,

Was t h e r e a n a p p l i c a t i o n ferm put, i n b y K?. Dean

o r a n y b o d y a b o u t t h e same time as t h e Deer

P a r k a n d P a r k m o r e a p D l i c a L 7 o n . s xerc put. I n ?

--- I d o n o t remember, y o u r H o n o u r . We

o n l y w e n t i n t o h e a d o f f ~ c e . John D r . a n ~ : n c

I n t o c e n t r e m a k e a n l n q u r r y about t h e s h o p p l n g

i n t h e f i r s t p l a c ~ a n d h e finished

u p filling f l l l i n z o u t a o u t a f o r m .

N o t o n l y form b u t -IG:TJ~ a l o t m o r e

t l l d t h a t , b u t h e d - d i:. : I , r c : a t j o n t o

25.

C h i r n s l d e a b o u t t h e same time as h e d l d I t

about Deer P a r k a n d P a r l t n o r e ? --- I cannol ;

ren le inber bu t I t h l n l : h c c o u l d h a v e d o n e t h e

t h r e e i n t h e same d a y , y e s . 7: c a n n o t

r emember .

He d i d remember t h e tinre? --- Yes, w h o l e t h r e e , a s f a r as y o u c a n

now, more o r l e s s a t t h e same

one d a y .

You h a v e t o l d -HS q u i t e c l e a r l y t h a t a l t h o u g h h e

d i d t h a t y o u c e r t . a i n l y were n o t i n t e r e s t e d

i n	P a r k m o r e	a n d	Deer	F a r k	a n d	never were?
.	_	-- No.

R u t , y o u were i n t e r e s t e d w l t h r e s p c c t t o

C h i r n s l d e ? --- Yes.

Why were y c u i n t e r e s t e d ~n C h i r n s i d e a n d n o t I n

t h e o t h e r t w o ? --- What was particular

a b o x t C h l r n s i d e w h l c h a t t r a c t e d y o u t o

t h a t ? ._-- \le a t t h e t ime. j u s t f e l t we w o u l d t a k e o n e

a n d t r y

T a k e one? --- Which is C h i r n s i d e .

W h e t m a d e C h i r n s l d e y o u p r o b a b l y p i c k o n C h i r n s i d e ? --- We p l c k e d 011

b e c a u s e one of t h e t h r e e - and we

t h o u g h t t h a t C h l r n s i d e was a n e w e r

area t h a n ---

You p r o b a b l y J l s t i n c t l o n t h o u g h t t h a t , b u t h z v l n p , nade a firm

i n y o u r own m l n d b e t w e e n

. C h i r n s i d e a n d d l r t l n g u i s h Deer F a r k a n d P a r l m o r e , h a v e

you no r e c o l l e c t l o n o f w h a t I t C h l r n 5 l d c . wzs t!wt

m a d e y o u b e t , w e c n t h e m ? --- No,

we j u s t m a n u f a c t u r i n g t h o u g h t we ~ l o u l d t a k e

I t was t h e f u r t h e s t f r o m w h e r e o u r

p l a n t i s a n d i t was d good

o u t l e t t h e r e .

When y o u saw y o u r s o l i c i t o r I I ~ May 1980, as a

r e s u l t o f s r h i c h h e w r o t e t h i s l e t t e r

c o m p l n l n i n g a b o u t a i l t h r c c !>rsml : : * S , Y O L I

a t t h a t s t a g e h a d n o c o m p l a i r t q t a l l a b o u t

C ~ I rnslde? --- MO, I d 1 d n o t .

Yet you somehow seemed t o hzvc cor !v?ycd t o y o u r

s o l l c l t o r v c r y c l e a r l v t h a t v2u d l d h a v e a

compla in t a b o u t C h l r n s l d c ? --- Yo.

And that. t h e y were a d v c r t i z l n p $59 a wepk p l a c e s

a t C n l l - n s l d r r2nd a t eav11 of l h c 0 l . h t . r

p l a c e s ? --- i c 1 1 ? n o t 'mow wh?cr p l a c e s

l

2 6 .

t h e y were k n o w , a d v e r t i s i n g .

If y o u d l d n o t how d i d y o u r s o l i c l t o r g e t

It i n t o h l s h e a d t h a t t h e y were d o i n g It

w i t h r e s p e c t h im? --- I s a l d t o him I was t o a l l t . h r e c u n l e s s y o u t o l d

j n t r o u b l e

w i t h H e r s f i e l d .

I k n o w , b u t h e wrltes a l e t t e r a n d s a y s t h a t It,

a p p e a r s t h a t s h o p s I n e h c h o f t h e c e n t v e s

a r e b e i n g o f f e r e d f o r l ea se a t a r e n t of'

a p p r o x i m & e l y o n e - f i f t , h . If you are o n l y

t a l k l n g a b o u t t h e t w o , h a v e y o u a n y

e x p l a n a t i o n a s t o how It was h p t h o u g h t

t h e y were a d v c r t i s l n g s h o p s a t $50 o r

s o m e t h i n g o u t a t C h l r n z l d e ? --- T. d o n o t

know. We were a s k i n E a l l t h e questions."

And a g a l n ,

"You o n l y s i g n e d t h e l ea se b e c z u s e Mr. D e a n t o l d

y o u t h a t Mr. Wills s a l d , "The who le show

h a s g o n e a n d i f you d o n o t s i g n u p y o u wlll

lose i t ' , i s t h a t r l g h t ? --- Yes.

T h a t was a n o u t r a g e o u s l i e , was l t n o t ? --- Yes.

I n	A p r i l ,	n o t ,
o n l y l o s i n g a l o t of money? --- Yes. d i d i t t u r n o u t t o h a v e been
a n o u t r a g e o u s l i e o u t y o u l o o k e d l i k e

How was i t t h a t y o u d i d n o t s a y t o Mr. Wills:

.You a r e a n i c e s o r t of c h a p t o f a i r y do b u s i n ? s s

w i t h , Why d i d y o u t e l l u s a n y t h i n g t h a t t a l e ?

Why d ~ d you no t s a y s o m e t h i r l g l i k P t h a t t o

h im? --- I d l d n o t s s y l i k e t h a t

t o h j m .

I k n o w , y o u d l d n o t , b u t why d l c ! y o u n o t I f y o u

k n e w h e h a d c h e a t e d a n d l i e d ? --- I d o not,

know why, a p p o i n t m e n t bu t I was w a i t i n g t o g e t a n

a n d s l t a n d t h a t vas a l l o n t h e p h o n e ,

I w a n t e d t o t a l k o n t h e d e s k .

I d o n o t k n o w ? T d l d ro!; cay t h n + t o h l m , I

d l d n o t t e l l h i n t h i l t .

T h e q u e s t i o n i s , whl ( '1d you n o t " Tt WI 1 1 h e p u t

t o me l a t e r io t h l s C ; ? S C , ~ C J d o b h t , w k : ~ c l t t h a t

a n y o r d 2 n a r . y s t rn l eh t nzn v h o 11nd b e e n t o l d a

o u t , b l a t a n t , 11,' l i k e t h 3 t ,

yog had b e l i e v e d a n d f c b n d o u t i t was a

27.

l i e , a n d i t l o o k e d l i k e b e i n g sc r lous , t h a t

a n y o r d i n a r y b l a z l n g b u s i n e s s m a n w o u l d h a v e b e e n

w i t h anger a n d w o u l d h s v e s a l d

s o h l e t h i n g a b o u t i t t o t h e mdn who d i d i t .

Why d i d y o u n o t ? i s t h e reason --- I d i d c o t b e c a u s e h e

d i d no t t e l l It t o me. Are y o u r e a l l y

s a y x n g t h a t y o u d l d n o t s a y

i t t o h i m ? --- T r u l y , y o u r Honour . . .

B u t y o u see, i t will b e p u t t o me t h a t y o u d l d

n o t s a y a l l ? --- Not t o me i t b e c a u s e h e h a d n e v e r s a i d I t a t

h e d i d n o t .

I t does s i t u a t i o n s n o t matter who t o , w h e n y o u g e t i n t o

l i k e t h i s I am s u r e It wlll b e

u r g e d o n me t h a t a man o f y o u r e x p e r l e n e c

w o u l d be h o r r i f i e d a t b e l n g s u c h a d l d It? --- lle a n d

w o u l d h a v e f i r s t time you met b e e n s a y i n g t h i n g s a b o u t I t t h e

t h e man who

We were w a i t i n g for t h e a p p o l n t m r n t t o go

i n a n d t a l k a b o u t It a n d t e l l t h e m t h e n

w h a t t h e y t o l d u s i n f r o n t of all t h e

d i ; . e c t o r s .

B u t y o u a r e n o t o n l y n o t s a y i n g t o Mr. Wills: y o u

are a p e r s o n of n o a p p o i n t m e n t d e c e n c y o r h o n e s t y - you

a r e more o r l ess f r i e n d l y w i t h h i m 2 n d h e

i s t r y i n g t o g e t a n f o r y o u ?

--- T h a t i s r l g h t .

How c o u l d y o u b e f r i e n d l y w i t h h i m a p p o i n t m e n t , when h e h a s

b e e n s u c h s m e o n e t o g e t a a n y b o d y . l i a r ? --- I was t r y l n g t o g e t

u s a n we c o u l d

n o t t a l k t o

You d i d s ~ ~ i e i t o r ? n o t solicitor, n e e d a n a p p o i n t m e n t , y o u n e e d e d a

--- T h a t i s right, I d i d n e e d a

I was t o o l a t e . ”

And f i n a l l y : -

“You were t e l l i n g u s , y o u were b e i n g a s k r d some

q u e s t i o n s a b o u t J u l y o f 1 9 7 9 w h e n t h e

a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m s were filled In fcr t h e

two s h o p s . B e t w e p n t h a t p e r l o d of t lnc a b o u t a n d

t h e time of t h e two t e l e p h D n e c c n v e r s a t l o n s

i n N o v e m b e r , w h a t was y o u r d t t i t u d e

g o i n g i n t o centres? -- - Es I showed y ~ u b u s l n e s s in t h o s e two s h o p p x n y

1 n t h e p l a n my

a t t l t u d e was v e r y much so t o RG d h e n d with,

y o u k n o w , g o l n g ~ n t o t h e s h o p p x r l p centre:;.

P.s y o u h a v e seen I h a v e s p P n t w l t h t+.

2a

P r o v e n $1700 , $1800. His b i l l was t h e r e

somewhere . . . .

You t o l d u s t h a t b e t w e e n J u l y a n d Novembe; i t w a s

y o u r d e f i n i t e p u r p o s e t o go o n w i t h t h e s e

p r o p o s i t i o n s ? --- I am t a l k l q p now, you

mean , we3 y o u r q u e s t i o n --- 1979 - n o , this

is g o l n g b a c k a b i t . You were a s k e d by

y o u r c o u n s e l , w h a t y o u r a t t l t u d e H A S

b e t w e e n J u l y a n d N o v e m b e r w h e n conversations y o u h a d

t h o s e t e l e p h o n e - o r r a t h e r

you h a d o n e w i t h M o r r i s s e y a n d bfr. Dean h?d

o n e w i t h Mr. Wills. You s a i d y o u r

i n t e n t i o n was q u i t e d e f i n i t e l y t o l ea ses? go on

w l t h	t h e	p r o p o s l t i o n s	w i t h	t h e	---
Yes.

Well, d o e s t h a t m e a n t h a t y o u w o u l d h a v e g o n e on

w i t h t h e l ea ses a n d s i g n e d t h e m e v e n i f you

h a d n o t h a d t h o s e t e l e p h o n e c o n v e r s ? . t l n n s 3

--- No, i f we h a d n o t h a d t h o s e h a v e t e l e o h o n e

. c o n v e r s a t i o n s , we w o u l d n o t g o n e o n

w i t h t h e l ea ses .

Why n o t , i f y o u -? --- We, i n t h e m e a n t i n e , we

w e n t c o l d o n t h e m , a n d we d i d n o t w a n t t o

go o n w i t h t h e m , b u t we k e p t o u r o p t i o n s

o p e n . . .

When d i d y o u c o n f u s i n g c h a n g e y o u r - y o u see ~t is a l l t t l e

- y o u a t t l t u d e were a s k e d f a i r l y a n d

s q u a r e l y w h a t y o u r was b e t w e e n

u p c o n v e r s a t i o n s ? a n d J u l y t o t h o s e t e l e p h o n e

--- Yes.

And I u r d e r s t o o d y o u t o s a y t h a t y o u r a t t l t v d e

was v e r y d e f i n l t e l y t o go o n , a n d w i t h t h a t

m i n d a r c h i t e c t s ? --- i n y o u h a d s p e n t m o n e y w l t h

J t was.

Well, w h e n d i d y o u c h a n E e y o u r mind and d e c ~ d e

t h a t y o u would n o t go o n ? --- Well, we c o t

v e r y b u s y t o w a r d s October and November and

we s o r t of f o r g o t a l l a b o u t j t , a n d t h e n

Mr. W h a t ' s h i s name came o n t h e p h o n e p h o n e . - Mr.

P h i l l i p M o r r i s s e y came o n t h e

You j u s t f o r g o t a b o u t i t . I t i s h a r d t o

G n d e r s t a n d t h a t you were so k e e n t o € 0 on

t h a t y o u well a l o t t o me? --- Yes, w ~ t h w o u l d s p e n d m o n e y , and q u i t e a l o t

of m o n e y , d l d y o u n o t w l t n t h e a r c h ~ t e c i s ,

Mr. P r o v e n .

I was n o t t o l d how m u c h , b u t It was 2 s u b s t a n t i a l

2 9 .

blll? --- $1700 a n d . . .

Well, i t was a f a i r l o t cjf money f o r a n y b o d y 1

s u p p o s e . Well, y o u s p e n t a l l t h a t money

a n d t h e n y o u w e n t c o l d on t he ~ r o p o s ~ t l o n ?

--- Yes, we d l d a t o n ? s t a g e t h e r e l n

O c t o b e r a n d N o v e m b e r .

Is i t j u s t t h a t ycju f o r g o t a b o l r t i t o r t h a t some

f a c t arose w h l c h c a u s e d y o u t o c h a n g e y o u r

m i n d ? --- No, n o t h i n g really a r o s e a n d \VC

h a d n o t i t a t t h a t . h e a r d from Hersf j eld, and we l c f t

You h a d leases? --- We h a d l ea ses , b u t we h a d n o t

s i g n e d ---

And y o u k n e w t h e y were waiting f o r y o u t o sign?

--- Yes, we d i d n o t s l g n t h e m , we l e f t them

t h e r e .

I t is a l l t t l e d l f f l c u l t t o u n d e r s t a n d why y o u

were e n t h u s i a s t l c S e p t e m b e r i n anrJ

f o r g e t t i n g a b o u t i t i n October o r e a r l y

November? ---- Well , October a n d I lovembLr

a n d December i s o u r b u s i e s t n o ~ . t h , a n d

r e a l l y i t i s h e c t l c t o t r - y a n d g e t o r d e r s

o u t , your H o n o u r , a n d I d l d n o t a t t e n d t o

It, a n d t h i s i s t r u e .

B u t y o u k n e w q u i t e a r c h i t e c t s well when you go t t h o s e

- - -? --- y e s , b u t t h a t d i d n n t

mean t h a t we were n o t g o i n g t o g o i n

J a n u a r y . I t

As t o t h i s l a s t e x p r e s s i o n o f l n t e n t l o n i t i s

d i f f i c u l t t o c o n t e m p l a t e t h a t T h e o d o r e c o u l d e x p e c t t o h o l d

o n t o t h e s h o p s u n t i l a f t e r d e c l d e d o p e n i n g d a y a n d k e e p t h e l a n d l o r d

guessing, u n t i l h e t o go on or n o t , according t o

w h e t h e r t h e c e n t r e was a s u c c e s s . N o t e v e n Mr. Theor io re

c o u l d h a v e h o p e d t o 60 t h a t . The i n f e r e n c e thst. I d r a w fro:n

t h e whole o f t h e e v i d e n c e i s l ea ses t h a t a t a l l t jmes Theodot-e

i n t e n d e d t o e n t e r I n t o t h e o f b 0 t . h c e n t r e s . He al-so

d l d i n t e n d t o d e l a y a s l o n g as possible ~n e x ~ - . ~ ~ ! t i n y t h e

: I

31.

f o r y o u t h e r e i s one of a n d h e s a l d , i f y o u d o no:. t a k e i t ,

y c u r o p p o s l t l o n t h a t h a v e t h e

r i g h t . T h a t i s w h a t I missed b e f c r e . "

Mr. T h e o d o r e ' s e v l d e n c e c o n t i n u e d : -

"When	h e s a i d t h a t t o me,	when	he	s a i d	i f you
d o	n o t

t a k e o p p o s i t i o n , i t I will g i v e i t y o u r t o

I t h o u g h t i f i t i s s o g o o d , why

n o t . He s a i d g e t y o u r c h e q u e r e a d y a n d s e n d

i t i n t o t h e s o l i c i t o r i m m e d i a t e l y a n d I w i l l

1

g e t t h a t s h o p f o r y o u , i t 1 s y o u r s a n d I s a i d

t h a n k y o u v e r y m u c h .

Mr. T h e o d o r e was t h e n a s k e d Ilwas a n y t h i n g e l s e s a i d

t o y o u w h e t h e r o t h e r H e r s f i e l d p e o p l e were i n t e r e s t e d i n s h o p s ? " .

C o u n s e l f o r o b J e c t e d a n d I s a i d "DO n o t l e a d hlrn a t

t h i s s t a g e . " . Mr. Mosh insky f o r t h e a p p l i c a n t s a l d " Y e s I

u n d e r s t a n d " a n d t h e w i t n e s s s a i d "He s a i d t h a t was t h e l a s t

s h o p i n t h e c e n t r e a n d t h a t was i t , i f I d i d n o t t a k e l t , h e

was g o i n g t o l e t i t t o somebody e l s e . " T h e r e u p o n s c c o r d l n g

t o Mr. T h e o d o r e h e a r r a n g e d t h e e x e c u t l o n of t h e l ea se a n d

t h e s i g n i n g r e q u e s t e d o f t h e i n r e s p e c t of g u a r a n t e e a n d d l l l y s e n t h i s t h e g r a n t c h e q u e a s

o f t h e lease a n d f o r d u t y

a n d c o s t s . S i m i l a r l y r e l a t i o n i n t o t h e c r i t i c a l

c o n v e r s a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e P a r k m o r e ].ease.

T h e b a c k g r o u n d t o t h a t c o n v e r r a t l o n was t h a t a t

some s t a g e b e t w e e n J u l y a n d N o v e m b e r 1979 M r . . Dean r e c e j v r d a

r e q u e s t from a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of Parkmore a : sk lng t h a t t h e

l ease b e s i g n e d a n d t h a t h e , Mr. D e a n , r e p l l e d t h a t Mr.

1

T h e o d o r e was o v e r s e a s b u t mat ter was was t h e n d e a l t v j r e t u r n i n g s h o r ~ l y a n d t h a t h e

1 would see t h a t t h e t h . T h e r e a f t e r j n

t .

32.

November a t a time w h e n , a c c o r d i n g t o D e a n , h e was h a v i n g

!

:

s e c o n d t h o u g h t s a b o u t w h e t h e r i t was wise f o r F i r o n a t o t a k e

a n y of t h e leases h e r e c e i v e d a t e l e p h o n e c a l l f r o m Mr.

Wills. Wllls was t h e a g e n t of H e r s f i e l d w l t h ' r e s p e c t t o t h e

P a r k m o r e C e n t r e . A c c o r d l n g D e a n t o Wllls a s k e d h i m why

F i r o n a h a d n o t s i g n e d " t h e leases" a n d s e n t t h e m b a c k a n d

t h a t h e D e a n , s a i d t h a c t h e y were t h i n k i o g a b o u t t h e matter.

A c c o r d l n g t o Dean, Wills t h e n s a i d "well r e a l l y y o u r tlme i s

u p , you c a n n o t t h i n k a b o u t i t a n y l o n g e r , I h a v e g o t t o h a v e

1

t h e lease b a c k , o t h e r w i s e y o u l o s e y o u r right o r a p p l i c a t i o n

I

t o t h i s s h o p " . D e a n s a i d t h a t h e s a i d "Well we a re t h i n k l n g

1	of	s e t t i n g b a c k	a n d	t h i n k l n g	a b o u t	It	a n d w a i t i n g u n t i l	i t	i s
I

o p e n e d a n d s o r t m a k i n g o f a d e c i s i o n t h e n " . To t h i s ,

a c c o r d l n g t o Dean, Wills s a i d ttWell I d o u b t i t v e r y much

w h e t h e r y o u w o u l d g e t i f t h i s lease i n a f t e r i t o p e n s b e c a u s e a l l t h e s h o p s

are l e a s e d a n d i s n ' t s e n t b a c k i n a p e r i o d of

i

time y o u l o s e a l l y o u r r i g h t s t o t h i s s h o p a n d y o u p r o b a b l y

will n o t g e t i n a f t e r i t o p e n s b e c a u s e t h e y a r e a l l l e a s e d ,

a l l t h e c e n t r e is f u l l up . " .

F o r T h e o d o r e i m m e d i a t e p u r p o s e s t h p c r j t i c a l c o n v e r s a t i o n

was n o t b e t w e e n a n d Dean. c e n t r e s A c c o r d i n g t o T h e o d o r e ,

Dean s a i d t o h l m , " T h o s e s h o p p i n g a re g o l n g t o be

good . . . I was j u s t t a l k i n g t o Mr. Wllls a n d h e t o l d me t h a t

P a r k m o r e t , raff ic i s ... f a n t a s t l c , i t s g o i n g t o be a boomer . "

Mr. T h e o d o r e s a i d , ttWell J o h n y o u k n o w s e e i n g we a re g o l n g

I n t o o n e we will go I n t o t h e o t h e r o n e . " D e a n t h e n sa1.d "It

33.

i s t h e l a s t s h o p , ~f y o u d o n o t " A l r i g h t t a k e i t you a r e going t o mlss

o u t on It .I1 T h e o d o r e r e p l i e d , 1.ets t a k e i t " a n d

a c c o r d i n g l y h e d i d . I c a n n o t a c c e p t t h a t t h e statement, t o

t h e a p p e l l a p t t h a t a l l t h e s h o p s were l e t i n f i u e n c e d T h e o d o r e

t o d e c i d e d e c i s i o n b e f o r e t o t a k e t h e l e a s e s . I n e a c h case h e m a d e t h e

t h a t s tatement was made .

-

It may b e a r g u e d t h a t M o r r i s s e y assuming t h a t . t h e c r i t i c a l

s ta tements were ever m a d e b y o r Wills, a n d l o o k i n g

a t T h e o d o r e ' s e v i d e n c e a s a w h o l e i t o u E h t t o b e I n f e r r e d

t h a t h i s i n f l u e n c e of d e c i s i o n t o p r o c e e d was m a d e o n l y u n d e r t h e

t h o s e s ta tements . I d o n o t t h l n k s o . It seems

t o me no a c c l d e n t t h a t a s t o t , h e f i r s t s p o n t a n e o b s o f t h e two r e c i t a l c r i t l c a l

conve r sa t lons T h e o d o r e c o m p l e t t d h i s o f

t h a t c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h o u t m e n t i o n i n g t h a t h e was t o l d t h e

s h o p s were a l l l e t , a n d a s t o t h e s econd , h e e x p r e s s e d h l s

d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o p r o c e e d a t a s t a g e when h e h a d n o t b e e n t o l d

t h a t Wills s a i d t h e s h o p s were a l l l e t . I t was a s t h o u g h Mr.

T h e o d o r e h a d d i f f i c u l t y i n r e s p o n d e n t s r e m e m b e r i n g w h a t Ills r e a l case h a d

t o b e . I t i s c o n t e n d e d b y t h e t h a t t h i s b u t

r e f l ec t s t h e r ea l s i t u a t i o n w h l c h i s t h a t T h e o d o r e w h i l e

suffering u n d e r a sense of g r i e v a n c e has a l w a y s s o u g h t t o

r e n e g o t i a t e t h e r e n t b e c a u s e t h e d e a l c l e a r h e m a d e was a b a d one

b u t h a s a t no time r e a l l y b e e n a b o u t h a v ~ n g b e e n t o l d

t h e a l l e g e d f a l s e h o o d s . I t i s s a l d t h a t t h i s e x p l a i n s why h e

n e v e r p u t t h e s u p p o s e d f a l s e h o o d s t o M o r r l s s e y o r Wills.

T h e r e were n o s u c h f a l s e h o o d s a n d even I n t h e wltness b o x

34.

T h e o d o r e f a i l e d t o make h i s ca se w i t h c l a r l t y a n d c o n v i c t i o n .

It i s a f u r t h e r g e n e r a l comment t h a t when h l s

a t t e m p t t o r e n e g o t i a t e t h e r e n t h a d f a l l e d a n d h e resor ted t o

h i s s o l j c i t o r - . Hls s o l i c i t o r ' s instructions were i m p r o p e r i n

e v e r y s ense , t oo w i d e a n d - e v e n t h e n i n h i s s o l i c i t o r ' s l e t t e r

of 13 J u n e h e c a n n o t b r i n g h i m s e l f t o a c c u s e M o r r i s s e y o r

Wills of f r a u d .

So f a r as Deer P a r k c e n t r e is c o n c e r n e d M o r r l s s e y

d e n i e s t h a t h e s a i d t o T h e o d o r e t h a t a l l t h e s h o p s were l e t .

He agrees t h a t h e i n t r o d u c e d h l m s e l f a s t h e s o n - I n - l a w of a

f r l e n d o f T h e o d o r e ' s a n d t h a t t h e p u r p o s e o f h i s c a l l was t o

i n d u c e T h e o d o r e t o s i g n t h e lease. He cen t r e would a g r e e s t h a t h e s a i d

t h a t i t was h i s o p i n i o n t h a t t h e be a success.

He g a v e e v i d e n c e t h a t h e d i d so b e l i e v e a n d was e n t h u s i a s t l c

a b o u t i t . A t t h l t s t age h e k n e w t h a t o n l y a b o u t 80 p e r c e n t

of t h e s h o p s rjere l e a s e d , a n d h e k n e w q u i t e well t h a t on

o p e n i n g	d a y	It
wou ld u n o c c u p i e d . be a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e r e were a n o t i c e a b l e
n u m b e r	o	f	s h o p s

M o r r i s s e y ' s c r e d i t o v e r - o p t i m i s t i c a l l y was a t t a c k e d . It was a t t a c k e d

g r n u n d meeting of Deer P a r k t h a t h e h a d s p o k e n t o a

o n t h e

t e n a n t s w h l c h was h e l d i n O c t o b e r 1 9 7 9 .

It i s t h a t i t was s a i d , a n d M o r r i s s e y a g r e e s , t h a t u p e n - l n l : h e t o l d t h e t e n a n t s

h i s o p i n i o n t h a t b y d a y g0 p e r c e n t o f

t h e s h o p s w o u l d b e l p t . It was s a i d t h a t M o r r i s s e y k n e w t h e t

" -.

35.

t h e l e t t i n g was t h e n c o n s i d e r a b l y u n d e r 90 per c e n t a n d t h a t

i t was d i s h o n e s t of him t o s t a t e t h a t t h e 90 p e r c e n t w o u l d

b e l e t b y o p e n i n g d a y . H o w e v e r M o r r i s s e y s a i d t h a t h e was

g e n u i n e l y e n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t t h e p r o p o s i t i o n . ' He s a i d t h a t

h e b e l i e v e d o p e n i n g t h a t g0 p e r c e n t o f t h e s h o p s w o u l d be l e t by

d a y . I c a n n o t c o n c l u d e t h a t t h i s was n o t h i s t r u e

-

view.

His c r e d i t was a t t a c k e d a l s o o n t h e w h i c h g r o u n d t h a t h e

h a d p e r m i t t e d p a m p h l e t s t o b e d i s t r i b u t e d i n d i c a t e d

t h a t t h e a l t h o u g h Deer P a r k c e n t r e w o u l d h a v e a p u b l i c l i b r a r y

t h e p r o p o s a l f o r t h e l i b r a r y was i n d e f l n i t r l y

p o s t p o n e d . It was a l s o p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e o t h e r p r o p o s e d

f a c i l i t i e s i n c l u d e d i n t h e p a m p h l e t , h a d n o t mater ia l i sed .

I n t h e c o n t e s t b e t w e e n T h e o d o r e a n d M o r r l s s e y o n

t h e c r i t i c a l mat te r t h e o n u s i s T h e o d o r e . o n A p a r t

a l t o g e t h e r f r o m M o r r i s s e y ' s d e n i a l s T h e o d o r e ' s c r e d i t o n t h e

c r i t i c a l mat ter i s low. Also T h e o d o r e ' s d e m e a n o u r d i d n o t

i n d u c e c o n f i d e n c e , t h e r e were m a n y c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d

e v l d e n t i a r y c o n t o r t i o n s . My c o n c l u s l o n 1 s t h a t w h e n

s u f f e r i n g from a s e n s e o f g r i e v a n c e T h e o d o r e s p e a k s

e x t r a v a g a n t l y a a n d i r r e s p o n s l b l y .

I n c o m i n g t o t h e c o n c l u s l o n t h a t Mr. T h e o d o r e h a s

b e e n u n a b l e t o d i s c h a r g e t h e o n u s of p r o o f i n r e l a t , l o n t o t h e

case i n v o l v i n g K o - r l s s e y i t h a s n o t b e e n a p r o c e s s of t h e

. - . ... - -

acceptance of Morrissey‘s evidence to the exclusion of

Theodore’s. It is possible that Morrlssey’s evidence 1 s

fraught with certaln difficulties whlch if the onus of proof

were upon him would cause hesitation in making positlve

findings based upon it. Nevertheless although Mr.

Morrissey’s denial does carry weight this case may be approached on a basis equivalent to the situatlon that vould

obtain if for some satisfactory reason he had not given

evidence. In such a case as is now, Mr. Theodore’s evidence

must be given very close scrutiny which scrutmy it is unable

to survive.

The statements other than those relating to the centres being applicant’s case was based in forIn on

fully let. Other alleged representations concerned the

probable profitability of the respective centres. I do not

accept that these representations made by people not known to

Theodore and whose interest it was to promote the centres had any influence on Theodore, a successful and experienced businessman, in the exercize of his own independent business judgment concerning the assessment of the potential of the

particular premises. Indeed at the conclusion of the case it

was hardly suggested that I should.

Also , I do not accept that anything was said by

Morrissey or Wllls to the appellant that if the applicants

did not promptly execute the lease an3 sign the guarantee

3 7 .

a n o t h e r t e n a n t w h o s e b u s i n e s s was t h a t o f s u p p l y i n g b l l n d s t o

t h e p u b l i c w o u l d o r was l i k e l y t o t a k e t h e s h o p l i t t l e was p r o p o s e d t o

b e l e t t o t h e a p p l i c a n t . A g a i n , made of t h l s

mat ter a t t h e h e a r i n g .

So f a r as P a r k m o r e i s c o n c e r n e d t h e c o n t e s t i n t h e

f i rs t i n s t a n c e I s b e t w e e n Wills and Dean . I h a v e n o

h e s i t a t i o n i n a c c e p t i n g t h e e v i d e n c e of Wills. It i s n o t

t h a t I c o n s i d e r t h a t D e a n d e l i b e r a t e l y t o l d u n t r u t h s . B u t I

d o n o t s h o p s f o r o n e i n P a r k m o r e moment t h i n k Wills t o l d Dean t h a t a l l t h e

were l e a s e d . Wills is a man of q u l t t -

i m p r e s s i v e p e r s o n a l i t y . His d e m e a n o u r w 2 s most r e a s s u r i n g .

I be l l eve h e t o l d t h e t r u t h . N o t h i n g t o h i s d i s c r e d l t

e m e r g e d . It is my o p i n i o n t h a t D e a n g o t c a u g h t u p I n t h e

e n t h u s i a s m of T h e o d o r e c o n c e r n i n g t h e a l l e g e d w i c k e d n e s s of

M o r r i s s e y a n d h i s g e n e r a l d i s a p p o i n t m e n t a b o u t t h e p r o g r e s s

i n Deer P a r k , a n d h a v i n g l e a r n e d from T h e o d o r e t h a t M o r r i s s e y

t o l d h j m t h a t Wills t h a t a l l t h e s h o p s were l e t , a n d p e r s u a d e d h j m s e l f

h a d s a i u t h e same t h i n g . As I n d i c a t e d a b o v e t h c r e

was an e l e m e n t of u n r e a l i t y i n D e a n ' s t e s t i m o n y a n d a t t i t u d e .

F o r t h e f o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s I f i n d t h a t t h e

a p p l l c a n t s h a v e f a i l e d t o d i s c h a r g e t h e o n u s a c c o r d i n E l y o f p r o o f I n

r e l a t i o n t o VG No. 58 and VG No. 59 o f 1 9 8 0 a n d

t h o s e p r o c e e d i n g s m u s t b e d l s m i s s e d . T h e f i r s t named

r e s p o n d e n t i n e a c h of t h e s e p r o c e c d l n a s c r o s s clalmed u n d e r

t h e C o u r t ' s a s s o c i a t e d j u r i s d l c t i o n c l a i m l n g t h a t I n t h e

38.

e v e n t of F i r o n a ' s c l a m b e l n g u n s u c c e s s f u l I n r e s p e c t of

e i t h e r of t h e s e p r o c e e d i n g s t h e C o u r t h a ? j u r i s d l c t l o n t o

o r d e r t h e p a y m e n t of r e n t w h i c h e a c h o f f a i l e d t h e f l rs t named

r e s p o n d e n t c o n t e n d s F i r o n a d i s m i s s e d h a s t o p a y . As b o t h

a c t l o n s h a v e b e e n e a c h o f t h e f i r s t n a m e d

r e s p o n d e n t s claim t h e rent for w h i c h F j r c n a i s i n d e f a u l t i n

r e s p e c t of t h e P a r k m o r e a n d Deer P a r k c e n t r e s . As i t may

h a v e b e e n u n n e c e s s a r y t o p e n d i n g d e a l w i t h t h e s e c r o s s - c l a i m s , n o

a r g u m e n t h a s b e e n h e a r d t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e

a p p l i c a n t ' s c la ims. However , i t i s now n e c e s s a r y proceedings t o a t o c o n s l d c r

t h l s matter a n d a c c o r d l n g l y I a d J o u r n t h e s e

:

d a t e t o b e q u e s t i o n f i x e d t o h e a r a r g u m e n t on t h i s q u e s t i o n t o g e t h e r

1 w i t h t h e o f cos t s .