Unlimited digital access from $45/mo. Print subscriptions with bound volumes available.Shop Now

Browse

View Victorian Reports and Victorian Law Reports by volume number

25 VR(34 results)

Cases reported in this volume of the Victorian Reports

Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria v Midas Trading (Aust) Pty Ltd25 VR 1

[2009] VSC 141·Habersberger J·9 Apr 2009·

Trade practices - Consumer protection - Remedies - Cease trading injunctions - Width - Criteria - Product safety standards - Children's toys - Court order restraining supply of goods - Flagrant non-compliance - Further contraventions of statute - Injunction preventing defendant from carrying on whole or part of its business - Nexus between contravening conduct and terms of injunction - No time limit - "Manufactured and designed, labelled or marketed" - Fair Trading Act 1999 (No 16) s 151A - Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 80

Evidence - Admissibility - Expert evidence - Proof of qualification - Consumer product safety - Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 r 44.01

Re Blake (Deceased)25 VR 27

[2009] VSC 184·J Forrest J·8 May 2009·

Wills and codicils - Construction - Guiding principles - Ut res magis valet quam pereat - Anomalous gifts - Testator's intention - Ascertainment - Evidence - Ademption - Specific and general legacies - Income on legacies - Applicable interest rate - Wills Act 1997 (No 88) s 34.

Edwards v Edwards25 VR 40

[2009] VSC 190·J Forrest J·21 May 2009·

Wills and codicils - Validity - Application for probate - Opposition by caveator - Testamentary capacity - Will executed when testator was subject of guardianship order - Will not void - "Dealing" - Guardianship and Administration Act 1986 (No 58) ss 22 50 52(2) - Wills Act 1997 (No 88) Pt 2 Div 3.

Guardianship - Represented person - Rights - Right to make a will - Administrator - Powers - Interpretation - Least restrictive effect on wishes of disabled person - Statutory exclusion of power of administrator to execute a will in name of represented person - Guardianship and Administration Act 1986 (No 58) s 4.

Sandhurst Holdings (Australia) Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue25 VR 59

[2009] VSCA 167·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Buchanan and Dodds-Streeton JJA and Beach AJA·24 July 2009·

Land tax - Exemption - Land vested in body corporate providing for out-door sporting recreation or cultural purposes or similar out-door activities - Golf course under construction - Legislative purpose - Fulfilment of purpose - Exemption applicable only to current activities - Land Tax Act 1958 (No 6289) s 9(1)(g).

R v Irvine25 VR 75

[2009] VSCA 239·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Nettle and Neave JJA and Lasry AJA·23 Oct 2009·

Criminal law - Factories, shops and industrial safety - Failure to take reasonable care for safety of other employees - Ingredients of offence - Fatal workplace accident - Crown not required to prove gross negligence - Failure of judge to fairly summarise the arguments of both counsel - Faure warning not required in respect of fellow employee - Appeal allowed and acquittal directed - Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 (No 10190) s 25(1)(a) - Crimes Act 1958 (No 6231) s 568

Criminal law - Sentence - Director's appeal - Factories, shops and industrial safety - Failure to provide and maintain a safe working environment - General deterrence - Double jeopardy principle applicable - Delayed hearing of appeal - Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 (No 10190) s 21

R v Ashby25 VR 107

[2010] VSC 14·Osborn J·5 Feb 2010·

Criminal law - Perjury - Elements of offence - Lawful authority to administer oath and receive evidence - Office of Police Integrity - Director of Police Integrity - Delegate of director - Hearing conducted by delegate - Witness - Answers given on oath - Delegation invalid - Hearing not properly constituted - Evidence Act 1958 (No 6246) ss 110 111 151 - Police Regulation Act 1958 (No 6338) ss 86D 102D 102F.

Wenco Industrial Pty Ltd v W W Industries Pty Ltd25 VR 119

[2009] VSCA 191·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Redlich and Bongiorno JJA and Beach AJA·27 Aug 2009·

Practice and procedure - Orders - Reference of questions to special referee for inquiry and report - Report - Adoption by court - Discretion - Principles - Parties' credit - Assessment - Referee's obligations - Reasons - Adequacy - Reference before liability issue determined - Forensic choice - Risk - Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 rr 50.01 50.04.

Hilliard v Westpac Banking Corporation25 VR 139

[2009] VSCA 211·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Maxwell P, Dodds-Streeton JA and Osborn AJA·18 Sept 2009·

Restitution - Unjust enrichment - Bank - Cheques drawn by customer's employee - Bank's mandate - Notice - Duty to question transactions - Causation - Evidence - Weight - Circumstantial evidence.

Practice and procedure - Fair trial - Permanent stay - Cross-examination - Limitation - Witness invoking privilege against self-incrimination in declining to answer questions - Unsuccessful stay application made early in trial and not renewed.

Slaveski v State of Victoria and Others25 VR 160

[2009] VSC 423·Kyrou J·14 Dec 2009·

Practice and procedure - Parties - Person under disability - Litigation guardian - Appointment - Criteria - Self-represented plaintiff with mental illness - Incapable of managing affairs in relation to proceeding - Spouse acting as McKenzie friend - Litigant's threatening, abusive and disobedient behaviour - Judge acting of own motion - Litigant's spouse only person willing to act as litigation guardian - Spouse appointed as litigation guardian - Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 r 15.02.

Practice and procedure - General dispensation power - Parties - Person under disability - Appointment of litigation guardian during long trial - Requirement that litigation guardian act through solicitor - Litigant unable to obtain legal representation - Litigation guardian hitherto acting as McKenzie friend - Dispensation granted - Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 r 2.04.

A Team Diamond Headquarters Pty Ltd and Another v Main Road Property Group Pty Ltd and Others25 VR 189

[2009] VSCA 208·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Redlich JA and Beach AJA·24 Sept 2009·

Legal practitioners - Duty to court - Preparation and presentation of case - Public interest - Overarching responsibility to assist court in efficient use of limited resources.

Practice and procedure - Appeal - Leave to appeal - Hearing - Constitution of court - President's determination - Applicant objecting to bench of two judges hearing substantive appeal should leave be granted - Supreme Court Act 1986 (No 110) s 11(1A)

Practice and procedure - Appeal - Leave to appeal - Interlocutory costs orders - Strong reasons test for grant of leave.

Practice and procedure - Appeal - Leave to appeal - Notice of appeal - Draft - Amendment - New arguments raised on appeal - Failure to comply with the rule in Browne v Dunn on impugned interlocutory application - Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 r 65.07

R v Darmody25 VR 209

[2010] VSCA 41·(Court of Appeal) (2010) Nettle and Ashley JJA and Habersberger AJA·9 Mar 2010·

Criminal law - Procedure - Interlocutory decision - Special leave to appeal - Evidence - Applicability of Evidence Act 2008 - Commencement date - "Proceeding" - "Hearing in the proceeding" - Evidence Act 2008 (No 47) s 65(1) 65(3) - Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (No 7) s 295 - Statute Law Amendment (Evidence Consequential Provisions) Act 2009 (No 69) s 53 Sch 2, cl 2.

Criminal law - Procedure - Evidence - Admissibility - Hearsay - Unavailability of witness - Witness refusing to give evidence - Application to admit evidence given at committal hearing - Notice - Non-compliance - Probative value of evidence - Unfair prejudice to accused - "Not available to give evidence" - Evidence Act 2008 (No 47) ss 65(1) 65(3) 67(1) 67(4) 137 192 Dictionary cl 4(1)(f).

R v Chung25 VR 221

[2010] VSCA 39·(Court of Appeal) (2010) Redlich and Harper JJA and King AJA·11 Mar 2010·

Criminal law - Procedure - Trial according to law - Jury - Integrity of verdict - Constitution of jury - Power to discharge jurors - Discretion - Nature - Public perception - Necessity test - Jury deliberations - Contact between juror and members of accused's family - Contact minor and innocent - Apprehension of bias - Discharge of two jurors - Explanation to remainder of jury inappropriate - Miscarriage of justice - New trial ordered - Juries Act 2000 (No 53) s 43.

De Simone v Bevnol Constructions & Developments Pty Ltd25 VR 237

[2009] VSCA 199·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Neave JA and Williams AJA·3 Apr 2009·

Appeal - Leave to appeal - Arguable error below - No substantial injustice - Leave refused.

Human rights - Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities - Civil proceeding - Fair and public hearing - Party in civil litigation awaiting trial on criminal charges - Common substratum of facts - Privilege against self-incrimination - Referral of Charter question to Supreme Court - Criteria - Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (No 43) ss 4 6 24 25 32 33 38.

Practice and procedure - Stay of civil proceeding - Potential criminal charges arising out of common substratum of facts - Discretion - McMahon guidelines.

McMahon and Another v National Foods Milk Ltd25 VR 251

[2009] VSCA 153·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Nettle, Neave and Dodds-Streeton JJA·25 June 2009·

Contract - Construction - Ambiguity - Surrounding circumstances - Parties' intentions - Objective ascertainment - Milk products distribution agreement - Licence to use supplier's distribution and marketing system - Distributor's territorial exclusivity - Nature and scope of exclusivity - Whether distributor had exclusive right to sell milk in defined territory - Implied term - Benefit of agreement - Business efficacy - Collateral contract.

Contract - Restraint of trade clause - Breach - Exclusive distribution contract - Non-competition covenant - Term of contract and six months thereafter - Applicability to conduct preparatory to commencement of competitive business - Whether binding on director of corporate covenantor.

Guarantee and surety - Discharge of guarantor - Substitution of principal debtor by novations - Creation of new guarantee - Inference - Statute of Frauds.

Dura (Australia) Constructions Pty Ltd v Victorian Managed Insurance Authority and Another25 VR 290

[2009] VSCA 171·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Warren CJ, Nettle and Redlich JJA·29 July 2009·

Administrative law - Judicial review - Procedural fairness - Hearing rule - Applicability - Variable content - Preliminary decision part of broader process - Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal - Parties - Joinder - Permissible without notice - Tribunal practice note - Discretionary departure - Reasons - "Interim order" - Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 (No 53) ss 60(1) 117.

Appeal - Leave to appeal - Appeal from Trial Division order refusing leave to appeal - Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 (No 53) s 148 - Supreme Court Act 1986 (No 110) s 17A(4)(b).

Gosling and Others v Lorne Foreshore Committee of Management Inc and Another25 VR 302

[2009] VSCA 228·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Ashley and Redlich JJA and Kyrou AJA·8 Oct 2009·

Negligence - Occupier's liability - Duty of care - Content - Breach - Risk - Characterisation - Calculus - Magnitude - Obviousness - Hidden danger - Frequency of risk-taking behaviour - Practicability of guarding against risk - Inaction - Whether reasonable response to foreseeable risk - Prospective assessment.

Filipovski v Ogemi Services Pty Ltd and Another25 VR 316

[2009] VSCA 230·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Buchanan and Neave JJA and Robson AJA·9 Oct 2009·

Accident compensation - Workers compensation - Entitlement - Common law damages - Reintroduction for injury suffered on or after 20 October 1999 - Compensable injury - Aggravation of pre-existing condition - Credibility of worker - Appeal - Adequacy of reasons - Accident Compensation Act 1985 (No 10191) ss 5 134AB(1) 134AB(16)(b) 134AB(19)(c) 134AB(38) 134AE - County Court Act 1958 (No 6230) s 74(1) 74(3)

Practice and procedure - Appeal - Fresh evidence - Leave - Workers compensation - Medical report relevant to date injury suffered - Finality of litigation - Application refused.

von Risefer v Mainfreight International Pty Ltd25 VR 366

[2009] VSCA 179·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Ashley JA and Beach AJA·13 Aug 2009·

Appeal - Leave to appeal - Company - Winding-up order - Contributory - Appeal from dismissal of application to terminate or stay order permanently - Defective service of statutory demand - Winding-up order made on notice but in absence of defendant company - Importance of public reliance on company's registered office - Discretionary order - House v R test - Criteria - Solvency - Commercial morality - Public interest - Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 109X 482

MH6 v Mental Health Review Board and Another25 VR 382

[2009] VSCA 184·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Redlich JA and Hargrave AJA·20 Aug 2009·

Administrative law - Tribunal - Merits review - Procedural fairness - Waiver - Hearing rule - Mental health - Involuntary patient - Treatment order - Continuation - Rehearing - Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal - Applicant required to present case and give evidence first - Mental Health Act 1986 (No 59) ss 4 8 29 36 120.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Lindberg and Another25 VR 398

[2009] VSCA 234·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Warren CJ, Neave and Mandie JJA·9 Oct 2009·

Companies - Civil penalty proceedings - Discovery - Documents obtained by regulatory agency from non-party - Legal professional privilege - Non-party's right to opportunity to assert privilege - Order requiring party to produce discovered documents to non-party - Privilege lost once in possession of another party - Public interest immunity - Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) ss 13 19.

Atco Controls Pty Ltd (In liq) v Newtronics Pty Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (In liq) and Others25 VR 411

[2009] VSCA 238·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Warren CJ, Nettle and Mandie JJA·21 Oct 2009·

Contract - Commercial arrangement - Whether legally binding - Formation - Inference - Conduct - Objective test - Intention to create legal relations - Absence of good consideration - Parent company's loans to subsidiary - Parent company's letters of comfort and support to subsidiary's auditors - Assurance not to call up loans to detriment of other unsecured creditors - Subsidiary providing parent company with debenture - Subsidiary found liable to unsecured creditor - Parent calling up loans - Subsidiary's action against parent - Letters of comfort and support not legally binding - "Current trading obligations".

R v Momcilovic25 VR 436

[2010] VSCA 50·(Court of Appeal) (2010) Maxwell P, Ashley and Neave JJA·17 Mar 2010·

Criminal law - Drug offences - Drug of dependence - Trafficking - Possession for sale - Ownership of premises where drugs found - Onus on accused - Proof of lack of knowledge of presence of drugs - Lack of knowledge sole issue at trial - Alternative possession verdict not open - Sentence - "Unless the person satisfies the Court to the contrary" - Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (No 9719) ss 5 73(1) 73(2).

Human rights - Charter of Human Rights - Criminal law - Fair trial - Presumption of innocence - Drug offences - Burden of proof - Statutory reversal of burden - Incompatibility with presumption of innocence - No reasonable justification - Limit on presumption not demonstrably justified - Declaration of inconsistent interpretation - "Possible" - Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (No 43) ss 7(2) 25(1) 32(1) 36.

Statutes - Charter of Human Rights - Interpretation - Court not authorised to depart from meaning intended by Parliament - "So far as it is possible to do so consistently with their purpose ... in a way that is compatible with human rights" - Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 (No 10096) s 35(a) - Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (No 43) s 32(1).

Secretary to the Department of Justice v Osland (No 2)25 VR 490

[2009] VSCA 69·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Maxwell ACJ, Ashley JA and Bongiorno AJA·7 Apr 2009·

Administrative law - Freedom of information - Exempt documents - Override power to order release of exempt document where public interest required release - Stringent test - Court's inspection of disputed documents - Legal professional privilege - Legal advice to Attorney-General - Petition for mercy - Attorney issuing press release announcing refusal of petition - Press release reference to senior counsel's advice to government - No reference to other legal advices - Whether press release misleading - Scope of legislative concept of public interest - Policy considerations - Political and ministerial accountability - "Requires" - Freedom of Information Act 1982 (No 9859) ss 32 50(4).

Mantec Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd v Batur and Another25 VR 507

[2009] VSC 351·Habersberger J·20 Aug 2009·

Real property - Easements - Plan of subdivision - Express easement of way - Nature and extent of right - Obstruction - Clear and substantial - Dam pre-dating creation of easement - Whether dominant tenement easement subject to or free of obstruction - Right of dominant tenement owner to effect access improvement works - Notice of works - Rights of servient tenement owner - Fence - Common boundary - Servient tenement owner not obliged to maintain full width of easement - Gate - Whether implied easement of necessity - Whether right to deviate on to another part of servient tenement - Remedies - Injunctions - Declarations - "Way".

Vaughan and Another v Legal Services Board25 VR 536

[2009] VSCA 187·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Buchanan and Neave JJA and Kyrou AJA·25 Aug 2009·

Legal practitioners - Defalcation - Fidelity fund - Compensation - Entitlement - Exception - Money provided to practitioner for investment secured by real property mortgages - Nexus between legal practice and provision of money - Investment or re-investment not merely incidental to legal practice - "In the course of or in connection with legal practice" - "For the purpose of investment or re-investment by the practitioner" - "Incidental" - Legal Practice Act 1996 (No 35) s 208

Shire of Yarra Ranges v Russell25 VR 560

[2009] VSCA 279·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Warren CJ and Redlich JA·25 Sept 2009·

Practice and procedure - Appeal - Summary dismissal - Availability - Appeal as of right - Refusal of interlocutory injunction to halt demolition works - Demolition completed following institution of appeal - Inutility of appeal - No subsisting controversy of practical significance - Unjustified use of court resources - Appeal dismissed - Supreme Court Act 1986 (No 110) s 17A(4)(b)(ii).

Leon Holdings Pty Ltd v ODonnell and Another25 VR 569

[2009] VSC 430·Habersberger J·28 Sept 2009·

Administrative law - Judicial review - Appeal from Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal - Civil claim - Contract - Award of damages - Error of law - Factual findings unwarranted on evidence - Procedural fairness - Apprehended bias - Allowing hearsay evidence from one party only - Pre-judgment - Expressing concluded view before hearing all the evidence - Curtailment of oral evidence and tendering of documents - Curtailment of cross-examination - Building Act 1993 (No 126) ss 3 16 25A 106 112 169 170 - Building Regulations 2006 rr 304 318 1503 Sch 7 - Fair Trading Act 1999 (No 16) ss 107A 108 109 - Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 (No 53) ss 97 98 102 148.

Contract - Consideration - Variation of contract - No consideration where alleged promise was to do no more than what promisor bound to do under pre-existing contract.

Aidid v R25 VR 593

[2010] VSCA 56·(Court of Appeal) (2010) Ashley and Weinberg JJA and Coghlan AJA·22 Mar 2010·

Criminal law - Homicide - Manslaughter - Unlawful and dangerous act - Pedestrian abusing occupants of motor vehicle - Vehicle occupants pursuing and confronting pedestrian - Ensuing fist fight on roadway - Pedestrian struck and killed by another vehicle - Two accused convicted of manslaughter and co-accused of assault - Whether verdicts inconsistent - Causation - Deceased's intoxication - Direction - Verdicts not unsafe and unsatisfactory.

Talacko and Others v Talacko (No 2)25 VR 613

[2009] VSC 444·Habersberger J·2 Oct 2009·

Injunction - Restraining defendant from leaving the jurisdiction - Writ of ne exeat colonia - When writ will issue - Statutory power of arrest - Inherent jurisdiction to make a no departure injunction - Serious interference with party's right to travel freely and to choose place of residence - Defendant restrained until judgment or payment into court of moneys equal to the value of real estate subject to freezing order - Supreme Court Act 1986 (No 110) ss 3(6) 37 Pt 6 Div 6 - Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 rr 37A.03 57.10

Practice and procedure - Interlocutory application - Evidence - Affidavit - Cross-examination of deponent - Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 r 40.04

Metrolink Victoria Pty Ltd v Inglis25 VR 633

[2009] VSCA 227·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Neave and Redlich JJA and Williams AJA·2 Oct 2009·

Damages - Remoteness - Tort - Negligence - Foreseeability - Kind of loss - Categorisation - Collision between motor vehicle and tram - Delayed operation of trams - Economic loss - Tram operator's contractual performance penalties recoverable.

Director of Public Prosecutions v Ali and Another (No 2)25 VR 656

[2009] VSCA 243·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Maxwell P, Weinberg JA and Kyrou AJA·21 Oct 2009·

Costs - Appeal - Entitlement - Confiscation Act proceedings - Application for restraining order - Successful director's appeal - Whether director entitled to costs - Whether appeal a test case - Confiscation Act 1997 (No 108) s 133A

St George Bank Ltd v Quinerts Pty Ltd25 VR 666

[2009] VSCA 245·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Nettle and Mandie JJA and Beach AJA·28 Oct 2009·

Contract - Breach - Damages - Professional negligence - Valuation of real property - Proposed bank mortgage loan - Loan based on valuation - Negligent over-valuation - Bank lending too much against security of mortgaged premises - Breach of valuer's retainer - Measure of damages - Whether lender would have entered into alternative transaction at true valuation - Lost opportunity damages - Proof required - Contributory negligence - Proportionate liability - Apportionable claims - Concurrent wrongdoer - Wrongs Act 1958 (No 6420) Pt IVAA ss 23B 24 24AH 24AI - Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Pt VIA.

R v De Montero25 VR 694

[2009] VSCA 255·(Court of Appeal) (2009) Ashley, Redlich and Weinberg JJA·29 Oct 2009·

Criminal law - Driving offences - Culpable driving causing death - Dangerous driving causing death - Alternative offence to culpable driving - Distinction between offences - Directions as to dangerous driving - Levels of negligence - Differentiation - Ordinary risks of road use - Extent and nature of potential harm - Crimes Act 1958 (No 6231) ss 318 319 - Road Safety Act 1986 (No 127) ss 64 65

Criminal law - Fair trial - Jury - Majority verdict - Communication by juror to defence counsel between conviction and sentence - Comment on counsel's conduct of defence - Whether bias by juror - Juries Act 2000 (No 53) s 78

Henderson-Smart v Quality Blow Moulders Pty Ltd25 VR 724

[2010] VSCA 14·(Court of Appeal) (2010) Mandie and Bongiorno JJA and Williams AJA·15 Feb 2010·

Contract - Construction - Objective determination of rights and liabilities - Context - Purpose and object of transaction - Guarantee - Past indebtedness - Future indebtedness - No question of ambiguity - "Owed".