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England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions >> Ultraframe (UK) Ltd v Fielding & Ors [2003] EWCA Civ 1805 (12 December 2003) URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2003/1805.html Cite as: [2003] EWCA Civ 1805 |
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COURT OF APPEAL (CIVIL DIVISION)
ON APPEAL FROM THE HIGH COURT
CHANCERY DIVISION
MR JUSTICE LADDIE
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
LORD JUSTICE LONGMORE
and
SIR WILLIAM ALDOUS
____________________
ULTRAFRAME (UK) LIMITED |
Appellant |
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- and - |
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(1) GARY JOHN FIELDING (2) SALLY ANNE FIELDING (3) THE BURNDEN GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY |
Respondents |
____________________
Smith Bernal Wordwave Limited, 190 Fleet Street
London EC4A 2AG
Tel No: 020 7421 4040, Fax No: 020 7831 8838
Official Shorthand Writers to the Court)
David Oliver QC, Iain Purvis (instructed by Addleshaw Goddard solicitors) for the Respondents
____________________
Crown Copyright ©
Lord Justice Waller:
Introduction
Background
"IT IS ORDERED that:
1. The following issues be tried in both actions prior to the remaining issues:
(1) whether or not design right subsists in any of the designs pleaded in 1 CH 00435;
(2) ownership of any such design rights as are held to subsist;
(3) the extent to which the components marketed by Northstar Systems Limited, Seaquest Systems Limited and The Burnden Group Plc are infringing copies of the said designs and consequently infringing articles within the meaning of the CDPA 1988;
(4) to what extent The Burnden Group Plc, Alumax Extrusions Limited, Alcoa Extruded Products (UK) Limited, Northstar Systems Limited and/or Seaquest Systems Limited and each of them are liable to the Claimant for infringement of such design rights;
(5) the relief (if any) consequential on the determination of (1)-(4).
The following questions shall not be considered with the preliminary issue set out above and shall be tried with the remaining issues:
(a) whether Mr & Mrs Fielding, Mr Naden or Mr Clayton are liable for the infringements of any persons or companies concerned in the alleged infringing activities;
(b) Mr Fielding's alleged dishonest participation in the scheme to divert the intellectual property rights away from Mr Davies' trustees in bankruptcy (specifically the allegations contained in paragraphs 18 to 25 and paragraph 27 of the Re-Amended Statement of Claim in the consolidated action CH 1988 O/S Nos. 392 & 418.); and,
(c) the question of the quantum of any damages, additional damages or profits to which the Claimant is entitled."
"1. Design right subsists in those designs identified in the table in the Schedule hereto.
2. It is declared that the said design rights never belonged to Howard Davies or his trustee in bankruptcy and that Ultraframe (UK) Limited has no title to the same.
3. The owner of such design rights is the person identified in the 2nd column in the table in the said schedule.
4. The components complained of in 1 CH 00435 and identified in the 3rd column in the table in the said schedule are infringing articles within the meaning of the CDPA 1988.
5. Paragraphs 3 and 4 above are without prejudice to the right of Gary John Fielding and Sally Ann Fielding and the Burnden Group Plc to seek to raise any defence of licence in any proceedings for infringement of design right brought against them by the liquidator of Northstar Limited or the liquidator of Seaquest Limited and without prejudice to the right of Ultraframe (UK) Limited, the liquidator of Northstar Limited and the liquidator of Seaquest Limited to seek to rely upon any point of estoppel or acquiescence or other argument that they are now precluded form (sic) raising such defence of licence.
6. Action number HC 01 0435 be dismissed. …..
9. The costs of determining the aforesaid preliminary issues and all the costs of action number HC 01 00435 be reserved to the Judge determining consolidated actions CH 1988 O/S No 392 and CH 1988 O/S No 418."
Twenty three design rights were identified and the owners identified were Northstar as to twenty, NISL as to one, and QCL as to two.
The Main Appeal
Employment Point
"We mention this simply as an example of the difficulties which arise if the court seeks to imply into the definition of "employee" tests which Parliament has not seen fit to express. Further, as Mummery J. accepted through his attempted distinguishing of Lee v Lee's Air Farming Ltd [1961] AC 12, the term "employee" would be given a special meaning for the employment protection legislation which it does not have in other contexts or indeed under the general law. For the reasons given by Morison J. which we find cogent the difference in context between Lee's case and a case under the Act of 1996 does not justify the difference in result. The gloss sought to be given by Mummery J. to "employee" in the Act, based as it is on the ability of the controlling shareholder to prevent his dismissal, is all the more surprising when applied to a case such as the present when Mr. Bottrill was powerless to prevent his actual dismissal which triggered his claim.
We recognise the attractions of having in relation to the Act of 1996 a simple and clear test which will determine whether a shareholder or a director is an employee for the purposes of the Act or not. However, the Act does not provide such a test and it is far from obvious what Parliament would have intended the test to be. We do not find any justification for departing from the well established position in the law of employment generally. That is whether or not an employer and employee relationship exists can only be decided by having regard to all the relevant facts. If an individual has a controlling shareholding that is certainly a fact which is likely to be significant in all situations and in some cases it may prove to be decisive. However, it is only one of the factors which are relevant and certainly is not to be taken as determinative without considering all the relevant circumstances. "
"42. Consistent with the latter passage, it is possible that a company in which the sole shareholder is the sole director and sole employee may be treated as a sham, at least for some purposes. But there is no suggestion in this case that any of the Quickfit companies or Northstar could be so described. They were substantial companies with significant workforces engaged in substantial business with a substantial (if largely hidden) turnover. They filed accounts, were registered for VAT, paid employees wages and so on.
43. Although both Lee and Bottrill were cases involving different legislation to that which is in issue here, I think the approach is just as applicable. One purpose of s 216(2) and (3) of the 1988 Act is to vest design right in the person or company for whom it was created and who paid for it. Thus subsection (2) deals with commissioned designs, meaning designs ordered and paid for by the commissioner, and subsection (3) is concerned with designs created in the course of working as an employee for another. As a rough and ready rule of thumb, if designs are created and paid for by another, the statutory rights under the Act should belong to that other. I can see no reason when the other is a company, why there should be a different outcome simply because the designer is also the managing director of the company and majority or sole shareholder. I should make it clear that S 216(3) is not limited to cases in which the employee makes the designs "for" his employer. The subsection is broad enough to cover cases in which the employee does the design work within the scope of his employment, in his employer's time and with his employer's equipment and facilities, even if he, the designer, wants to keep the product for himself."
"We are anxious not to lay down rigid guidelines for the factual inquiry which the tribunal of fact must undertake in the particular circumstances of each case, but we hope that the following comments may be of assistance.
The first question which the tribunal is likely to wish to consider is whether there is or has been a genuine contract between the company and the shareholder. In this context how and for what reasons the contract came into existence (for example, whether the contract was made at a time when insolvency loomed) and what each party actually did pursuant to the contract are likely to be relevant considerations.
If the tribunal concludes that the contract is not a sham, it is likely to wish to consider next whether the contract, which may well have been labelled a contract of employment, actually gave rise to an employer/employee relationship. In this context, of the various factors usually regarded as relevant (see, for example, Chitty on Contracts, 27th ed. (1994), vol. 2, pp. 703-704, para. 37-008), the degree of control exercised by the company over the shareholder employee is always important. This is not the same question as that relating to whether there is a controlling shareholding. The tribunal may think it appropriate to consider whether there are directors other than or in addition to the shareholder employee and whether the constitution of the company gives that shareholder rights such that he is in reality answerable only to himself and incapable of being dismissed. If he is a director, it may be relevant to consider whether he is able under the articles of association to vote on matters in which he is personally interested, such as the termination of his contract of employment. Again, the actual conduct of the parties pursuant to the terms of the contract is likely to be relevant. It is for the tribunal as an industrial jury to take all relevant factors into account in reaching its conclusion, giving such weight to them as it considers appropriate."
"I consider the safest starting point to be the oft quoted passage of MacKenna J in Ready Mixed Concrete (South East) Ltd v Minister of Pensions and National Insurance [1968] 2 QB 497, 515:
"I must now consider what is meant by a contract of service. A contract of service exists if these three conditions are fulfilled. (i) The servant agrees that, in consideration of a wage or other remuneration, he will provide his own work and skill in the performance of some service for his master. (ii) He agrees, expressly or impliedly, that in the performance of that service he will be subject to the other's control in a sufficient degree to make that other master. (iii) The other provisions of the contract are consistent with its being a contract of service."
MacKenna J made plain that provided (i) and (ii) are present (iii) requires that all the terms of the agreement are to be considered before the question as to the existence of a contract of service can be answered. As to (ii) he had well in mind that the early legal concept of control as including control over how the work should be done was relevant but not essential. Society has provided many examples, from masters of vessels and surgeons to research scientists and technology experts, where such direct control is absent. In many cases the employer or controlling management may have no more than a very general idea of how the work is done and no inclination directly to interfere with it. However, some sufficient framework of control must surely exist. A contractual relationship concerning work to be carried out in which the one party has no control over the other could not sensibly be called a contract of employment. MacKenna J cited a passage from the judgment of Dixon J in Humberstone v Northern Timber Mills (1949) 79 CLR 389, 404 from which I take the first few lines only:
"The question is not whether in practice the work was in fact done subject to a direction and control exercised by an actual supervision or whether any actual supervision was possible but whether ultimate authority over the man in the performance of his work resided in the employer so that he was subject to the latter's order and directions."
In Nethermere (St Neots) Ltd v Gardiner [1984] ICR 612 the court again considered what if any "mutual obligations" the law required for a contract of service to exist. It also discussed "control" in that context. Stephenson LJ, at p 623, cited a sentence from Stable J's judgment in Chadwick v Pioneer Private Telephone Co Ltd [1941] 1 All ER 522, 523D: "A contract of service implies an obligation to serve, and it comprises some degree of control by the master." He then cited the passage in Ready Mixed Concrete that I have given and continued, at p 623:
"There must, in my judgment, be an irreducible minimum of obligation on each side to create a contract of service. I doubt if it can be reduced any lower than in the sentences I have just quoted and I have doubted whether even that minimum can be discerned to be present in the facts as found by the industrial tribunal ..."
The sentences referred to were, of course, those from MacKenna J's judgment that I have quoted.
In Carmichael's case [1999] ICR 1226 the industrial tribunal had held that the applicant's case "founders on the rock of absence of mutuality". Lord Irvine LC said, at p 1230:
"If this appeal turned exclusively--and in my judgment it does not--on the true meaning and effect of the documentation of March 1989, then I would hold as a matter of construction that no obligation on the CEGB to provide casual work, nor on Mrs Leese and Mrs Carmichael to undertake it, was imposed. There would therefore be an absence of that irreducible minimum of mutual obligation necessary to create a contract of service."
He then cited the Nethermere case and Clark v Oxfordshire Health Authority [1998] IRLR 125, 128, paragraph 22, per Sir Christopher Slade. While it is true that control was not in issue in Carmichael, Lord Irvine LC's reference to Nethermere was to the judgment of Stephenson LJ at p 623C-G. That is the very passage that cites MacKenna J in Ready Mixed Concrete and concludes with Stephenson LJ's reference to "an irreducible minimum" which thus expressly included "control".
There can be no doubt Lord Irvine LC was approving that passage and I am easily persuaded we should follow it. It has been cited with at least apparent approval in several other recent decisions, including those in this court and the Privy Council."
"By the beginning of the 1990s Mr Davies, a joiner by training, was running a business making and supplying secondary glazing to houses. This business was incorporated under the name Noise Insulation Services (Manchester) Limited ("Noise Insulation"). Mr Davies owned the shares. Apparently he ran the business with his brother-in-law. As part of the business Mr Davies supplied conservatory roofs. He purchased the components for these from a number of suppliers including Ultraframe.
In late 1991 he decided to concentrate on supplying double-glazing rather than secondary glazing. He coined the name Quickfit for this business. Shortly afterwards he closed down Noise Insulation, selling the work in progress and goodwill of the business to his sister. He invested the proceeds in his new business for which he incorporated a company called Quickfit Limited. He had previously purchased an industrial plot at Groby Road, Audenshaw, Manchester and in about 1993 he constructed factory premises on it for the business. He owned both the land and the buildings until he was made bankrupt.
Mr Davies decided to enter the market for conservatory roofing systems with his own product which came onto the market in about 1992. This product was made primarily of GRP reinforced with wooden cores and was fairly crude. In March 1994, Quickfit Limited was ordered to be wound up on a creditor's petition. However, before this order was made, on 19 January 1994, Mr Davies had incorporated two new companies Quickfit Windows Limited ("QWL") and Quickfit Conservatories Limited ("QCL"). He appears simply to have carried on operating the business through these new companies without interruption as he had through the old.
Mr Davies decided that his first product needed improvement and set about designing a replacement product made of aluminium and uPVC. This was intended to be an engineered product, designed to be easily assembled and using common components wherever possible to keep down the costs of manufacture and assembly. The extent to which this redesign process involved Mr Clarke is a matter of dispute. Whatever Mr Clarke's contribution, there is no doubt that the moving force behind the new design process was Mr Davies who appears to have wielded complete control over his companies and the majority of the employees and his acquaintances. In one memorable piece of oral evidence, Mr Stephen Ivison, who had been a director of Seaquest for a year, said that employees did not ask questions about ownership of rights to Mr Davies. He put it this way:
"… those were not really the sort of questions you asked Howard if you wanted to survive to the end of the week. This was sort of fait accompli. This was Howard's system. This was it. Do as you are told or toast!"
Both QCL and QWL were wound up on creditors' petitions. The winding up order in respect of QCL was made on 6 December 1995 and that in respect of QWL was made on 12 March 1996. It appears that trading under the companies stopped at about the end of the year. According to his then girlfriend, Sharon Owen, this did not change Mr Davies' routine in any way. He carried on as before, now trading personally under a variety of names including Quickfit Roof Systems, Quickfit Fabrications and Quickfit Trims and Fixings. He continued to employ staff. In an affidavit sworn in May 1996, he claimed to employ 18 staff and said that he had a turnover of £1.5 million. Whatever the precise numbers, it appears that the business was substantial, both during the time it was being conducted by QCL and QWL and thereafter.
At the end of May 1996 Mr Davies caused Northstar to be incorporated to carry on the Quickfit business. It may well be that by this time Mr Davies appreciated that his somewhat cavalier attitude to the management of his companies was likely to lead him into trouble. In any event, the company was incorporated with a nominee shareholder and director, Mr Michael Pendragon, who held the shares on trust for Mr Davies. Mr Davies subsequently appointed Mr Jeffrey Naden as the sole director of the business. Mr Naden, however, was a front. He, like all the other members of staff, did whatever Mr Davies told him to do. As appears to have been the case throughout, much of the conservatory business was conducted in cash. Much of that was not put through the respective companies' accounts. Northstar was no exception. There is little doubt that Mr Davies acted as a shadow director. His authoritarian approach to all appears not to have been diminished by the different formalities as to share ownership and directorships in Northstar.
The DTI had been investigating Mr Davies' activities as a director of his earlier Quickfit companies. It brought proceedings against him and, on 30 July 1997, he was disqualified from acting as a director of a company for five years. As the press statement released by the DTI explains, the disqualification order prohibited Mr Davies from being a director of a company or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, being concerned in or taking part in the promotion, formation or management of a company. It appears to be common ground between the parties that he and those around him paid scant regard to this order since he continued to act as a shadow director, and the de facto managing director, of Northstar well after the disqualification order was made. The DTI press release records that Quickfit Limited was wound up with a deficiency of £17,472, QCL was wound up with a deficiency of £164,912 and QWL was wound up with a deficiency of £75,276. Among the grounds for Mr Davies' disqualification was the finding that he allowed QWL to continue trading after January 1995 when he knew, or ought to have known, that it was likely to fail to the material detriment of creditors and to his own advantage.
By this time Mr Davies was having difficulties with another former girlfriend, Janice Bardsley. She had made a claim against him and had obtained an order in her favour for the payment of £30,000. Mr Davies refused to pay. On 14 November 1997, Miss Bardsley commenced bankruptcy proceedings against him. On 22 December of that year a bankruptcy order was made.
Towards the end of 1997, Mr Davies decided to try an additional method of making money out of the Quickfit system. He formulated a new licensed dealership arrangement under which conservatory fabricators would purchase licences for large sums of money giving them exclusive rights to supplies of products in particular geographical territories. There was a large presentation to interested dealers on 12 September 1997 which was attended by at least 50 invitees. At this presentation, documentation was distributed claiming that the designer and licensor (i.e. the owner of the design rights) of the system was "H D Systems", a trading name for Mr Davies. The obvious advantage of this proposed scheme to Mr Davies is that it would allow him to continue deriving income from the Quickfit system without him doing so through a company under his control – something which was prohibited by reason of the disqualification order. It therefore suited Mr Davies' interests at that moment, but not the interests of Northstar, to assert that he owned the rights in the Quickfit system personally.
In any event, this new venture failed. It was necessary for Northstar to continue to exploit the Quickfit system. Northstar could have been in a difficult position in this regard if the rights in the system belonged personally to Mr Davies. By the autumn of 1997 there was a real possibility that Mr Davies would be made bankrupt at the suit of Miss Bardsley. If that were to happen, and if Mr Davies really owned the rights in the system, those rights would pass to the trustee in bankruptcy and Northstar's business might well be brought to an abrupt end. This appears to have been appreciated not only by Mr Davies but also by Mr Birkett, who had joined the business in June 1997 and subsequently was made a director of Northstar, and by two other senior employees, Mr Mike Whitby and Mr Ivison. In October 1997, a few weeks before the presentation of the bankruptcy petition, an agreement was prepared purporting to be a contract of employment between Mr Davies and Northstar. It was dated 1996. Everyone, including Mr Birkett who arranged for it to be drawn up and gave evidence before me, accepts that the date on it was false. The most likely reason for the creation of this document was to ensure that the Quickfit system was owned by Northstar in the event that Mr Davies was made bankrupt.
After he was made bankrupt, Mr Davies and the other senior employees of Northstar set about convincing Mr Davies' trustee in bankruptcy and the DTI, that Northstar owned the rights in the Quickfit system. They were advised by Mr Christopher Hacking a solicitor who at that time was a partner in Philip Woods & Co., which later became part of Hill Dickinson. Acting on the information given to him by Mr Davies, Mr Naden, Mr Birkett, Mr Whitby and Mr Ivison, Mr Hacking produced documents which forcefully asserted that Northstar, not Mr Davies, owned the rights. At the time these documents were prepared, Mr Hacking had not been shown the ante-dated letter of employment referred to above. Mr Hacking gave oral evidence at the trial. He sought to downgrade the strength of the letters he had written to the trustee and the DTI as to ownership of the rights in the Quickfit system. As he put it in his witness statement:
"In summary, I was attempting to ensure that I took all points in Northstar's favour and I considered that I was entitled and obliged to do this; Northstar was a client under what seemed to be an unjustified attack from an aggressive and much larger rival. I formed the view that the position I had taken was sustainable and then stuck to it."
Mr Hacking's assertion that Northstar owned the rights was dependent on the information fed to him by Mr Davies and others. It is not suggested that Mr Hacking had personal knowledge of the way in which Mr Davies and his companies ran their affairs which would have allowed him to offer an independent view of whether Mr Davies was an employee or whether he owned the rights personally."
"Save in relation to two issues, namely whether Mr Davies was paid wages and whether he intended to own the designs personally, there is no real dispute as to the circumstances surrounding the creation of the designs in issue. Mr Davies threw his heart into his companies. He worked long hours for them. Insofar as he did design work, it was for the purpose of creating products which would be made and sold by the companies. They were also to be used for the creation of extrusion tools. Those tools were ordered and paid for the by the companies. The design drawings themselves and the drawings relating to the tools bore the relevant company name. When Mr Davies gave written approval for third party drawings for use in the making of tools, he did so expressly as a director of and on behalf of one or other of the companies. There appears to be no reason to doubt, and on a balance of probabilities I hold, that drawings were done on company paper, with company drawing utensils and normally in company time. In all relevant senses the companies paid for their creation. When designs were assessed and revised that was done with the help of other company employees, such as Mr Clarke, in company time. In all these respects, insofar as the designs were created by Mr Davies, they were created for and treated as assets of the company and Mr Davies was doing the design work for and on behalf of the company. He was working for the company."
Commission
"Where a design is created in pursuance of commission, the person commissioning the design is the first owner of any design right."
"….. where a person commissions the taking of the photograph….. and pays or agrees to pay for it ….. and the work is made in pursuance of that commission, the person who so commissioned the work shall be entitled to any copyright subsisting therein……"
"Without proof of a prior commissioning, payment for the work – in whatever form – is of no consequence. Commissioning means ordering. In this context it means more than the requesting or encouraging. It connotes an obligation to pay. Not just to pay for the finished products if and when they are purchased, but to pay for the very article in which the copyright resides irrespective of whether any of the finished products are purchased."
"The object to which subsection (3) applies is a single negative regarded as an artistic work. What has to be shown to bring the work within the subsection is, first, that a person commissioned the taking of the photograph before the film was exposed and the negative made; secondly, that that person, the commissioner, agreed to pay for it – putting on one side for the moment precisely what the pronoun "it" stands for in the subsection – and agreed to pay for it before the film was exposed and the negative take; and thirdly; that the negative was taken in pursuance of the commission."
Trust
"Such a managing director would, of course, hold the drawings he made in trust for his company and would have to assign the copyright in them to his company if and when called upon to do so. No such assignment was made here; and, as Mr Finlator is not a party to the action, drawings Nos. 10, 15 and 16 must be excluded from consideration. I may say that I do not think that this makes any difference to the final conclusion in the matter, as the drawings in question are not vital to the decision."
Longmore LJ:
Costs
"but an important skirmish in a very large interlinked dispute".
Most of his judgment up to this point had been taken up by explaining exactly how interlinked the dispute was. There were three actions (the two Leeds actions together with the London Action, which he was about to dismiss) and two further actions which had been recently begun and the effect of which he described in paragraph 10 of his judgment. He continued:-
"It is possible, though by no means certain, that the court may come to the conclusion that the defendants have acted so badly that it would be unjust to make Ultraframe pay their costs even of the issues they have won on the hearing of these preliminary issues."
(1) when preliminary issues had been ordered and tried, a judge should normally make orders for costs in relation to those issues;
(2) the fact that preliminary issues were part of a wider dispute was no reason for not making such an order, since it was the fact that the issues were part of a wider dispute that made it sensible to order preliminary issues in the first place;
(3) even if it was right to say there was 'a very large interlinked dispute', that made no difference;
(4) the judge who tried the Leeds actions would have no familiarity with the cut and thrust of the issues that had been ventilated and determined by Laddie J and it would be almost impossible for that other judge to make a fair order in respect of the costs of the issues some of which had been determined in Ultraframe's favour and some against them;
(5) neither Burnden nor Mrs Fielding were parties to the Leeds actions;
(6) the question of the costs of the issues should, therefore, be remitted to the judge for him to determine them at this stage.
"It is clear that, whatever issues are left outstanding and even if the London Action goes, all the proceedings should be heard together since it will be difficult, if not impossible, to extricate the issues in one from the issues in the others. Even if there is not yet an order that action number 4 and potential action number 5 should be heard with actions 1-3, in my view it is overwhelmingly likely that such an order will be made unless strong arguments are advanced against it."
The current position is that the Leeds actions have now been transferred to London by an order of 8th July 2003. It is desirable (and I hope it can be arranged) for there to be a designated judge to case manage the dispute. The obvious candidate would be Laddie J himself (as he may well have appreciated would be likely when he reserved the costs of the preliminary issues). We have been told that there are various applications to strike out parts of the pleadings in some of the actions and it is, again, desirable for a judge to determine whether those applications should go ahead on their own or whether they should be heard as part of a trial of all the issues in all the actions.
Sir William Aldous
Schedule 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE HC03C03199
CHANCERY DIVISION
BETWEEN:
Claimant
Defendants
Defendants
AND
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE HC02C03545
CHANCERY DIVISION
BETWEEN:
Claimants
Defendants
Claimant
Part 20 Defendant
AND
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE HC03C00992
CHANCERY DIVISION
B E T W E E N:
Claimants
(1) GARY JOHN FIELDING
Defendants
230
COOPERRA / MAN_ LIT_T2 /21 October 2003
MAN_002 / 672073-3
1. Introduction
1.1 The Court is asked to exercise case management powers in respect of the Leeds Consolidated Action, the New Action and the New IP Action which, by virtue of an Order of the Court dated 17.06.03 (Bundle 2, Pages 286-288) are to be heard together.
1.2 To assist the Court, bundles have been prepared in respect of the Leeds Consolidated Action, the New Action and the New IP Action comprising Statements of Case and relevant Orders of the Court. A further bundle has been prepared in relation to a fourth action between Ultraframe (Claimant) and Mr and Mrs Fielding and TBG (Defendants) Case No 1 CH 00435, known as the London Action. The current status of this action and its relevance to the Leeds Consolidated Action, the New Action and the New IP Action are set out below (Part C, Paragraph 4 below). A bundle of relevant correspondence has also been prepared (Bundle 5).
1.3 In this Case Summary the abbreviations used in Appendix A below are adopted. At
Appendix B to this Case Summary are details of the parties' solicitors on the record.
At Appendix C are chronologies of key dates in respect of the progress of Leeds
Consolidated Action, the New Action, the New IP Action and the London Action
("the Actions"). These chronologies also duplicate as indices to the bundles.
1.4 This Case Summary attempts to:
(i) set out a summary of the central issues [Part A]
(ii) set out relevant background [Part B]
(iii) set out a summary of the Actions [Part C]
(iv) set out proposed directions. [Part D]
2. Part A Summary
2.1 The dispute between the parties which are the subject of the Actions have a long and complex history. The central issues concern the IPR in a conservatory roof system which was designed, manufactured and distributed by Mr Davies under the
231
COOPERRA / MAN_ LIT_T2 /21 October 2003
MAN_002 / 672073-3
style "Quickfit" and the competing interests of certain parties to the Actions in the companies created by Mr Davies which manufactured and distributed the Quickfit system.
2.2 In his judgment dated 14.2.03, Laddie J referred to "the complex multifaceted dispute which exists between the parties" and said: "It is clear that, whatever issues are left outstanding and even if the London Action goes, all the proceedings should be heard together since it will be difficult, if not impossible, to extricate the issues in one from the issues in the others. Even if there is not yet an order that action 4 [The New Action referred to in paragraph 5 below] and potential action number 5 [The New IP Action referred to in paragraph 6 below] should be heard with actions 1-3 [the Leeds and London Actions], in my view it is overwhelmingly likely that such an order will be made unless strong arguments are advanced against it." The Claimants agree with this, save for any matters that can properly be disposed of on a summary basis.
3. Part B Background
3.1 Mr Davies arranged for the Quickflt system to be manufactured and distributed through various companies of which he was a director and registered or beneficial shareholder - (i) NISL, (ii) QL, (iii) QCL and (iv) QWL.
3.2 The circumstances of the failure of those companies led to Mr Davies (i) on 13.06.97 being convicted of offences under s.217 of the IA 86 and so becoming personally liable for the debts of QCL and QWL and (ii) on about 30.07.97 being disqualified for 5 years under the CDDA 86.
3.3 Mr Davies' next company Northstar was incorporated on 24.05.96 and from 16.09.96, Mr Naden, a supervisor fabricator employed by Northstar, was his nominee director and shareholder. Mr Davies was in fact the sole beneficial shareholder and it is common ground that at all times he was the shadow director.
3.4 On 22.12.97 Mr Davies was made bankrupt on a Petition of a former girlfriend. Immediately afterwards, Mr Davies acquired Seaquest and again installed Mr Naden as nominee director and shareholder. By assignments dated 13.01.98 Northstar purported to assign to Seaquest the IPR in the Quickfit system which it now claimed to own.
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3.5 The Trustees in Bankruptcy of Mr Davies were not appointed until 5.6.98 and they remain in office. They investigated ownership of the IPR and shares in Northstar and Seaquest and on 08.06.98 and 15.06.98 obtained Orders under s.366 IA 86 against Northstar, Seaquest, Mr Naden, Mr Birkett, Mr Clayton and others for the provision of information, the production of documents and to prevent destruction of documents.
3.6 On 12.11.98 the Trustees in Bankruptcy began the first Leeds Action referred to below at paragraph 4.1. At this time Mr Fielding claimed to own the shares in Northstar and Seaquest and that he had made loans to both companies secured by a debenture in Seaquest dated 6.11.98 and a debenture in Northstar dated 17.11.98. Mr Fielding claims to have bought the shares in Northstar and Seaquest on 05.05.98 from Mr Clayton. Mr Fielding further claims to have made cash payments to Northstar amounting to £60,000 in the period 01.98 to 03.98 and to have made other payments in reliance on his debentures. On 01.12.98 the Trustees began a second Leeds Action referred to below at paragraph 4.1. The Leeds Actions (transferred to London by Order dated 8 July 2003) are shown as the Leeds Consolidated Action in the heading to this Case Summary.
3.7 Faced with very significant legal costs in pursuing the Leeds Consolidated Action, the Trustees in Bankruptcy assigned to Ultraframe the claims in the Leeds Consolidated Action, certain IPR and other property which assignment was sanctioned by HHJ Maddocks on 20.04.99.
3.8 It is part of Northstar and Seaquest's claim in the New Action that Mr and Mrs Fielding in and afler 11.98 took steps to remove the IPR and business from Northstar and Seaquest to their own premises at Burnden Works and to their own newly formed companies (1) BCP of which Mr Fielding was a director between 22.11.98 and 30.03.00 and (2) TBG of which Mr and Mrs Fielding have at all material times been directors and holders of more than 90% of the issue and share capital. TBG has at all material times carried on business, among other things, as a manufacturer and distributor of conservatory roof systems and related components under the style K2.
3.9 On 21.06.99 Mr Fielding appointed the Receiver to be administrative receiver of
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the property of Northstar pursuant to the Northstar Debenture. Mr Fielding's claim that Northstar is indebted to him is disputed. The Receiver remains in office but he has no realisable property under his control and has made no distributions to Mr Fielding or any other creditor.
3.10 By a licence dated 23.11.99, Seaquest purported to grant BCP an irrevocable worldwide exclusive licence until 31.12.04 to reproduce the designs there mentioned by manufacturing and selling goods in accordance with those designs and to develop and improve them in consideration for BCP paying Seaquest £500,000 over the term of the licence by specified instalments. Mr Naden signed this licence on behalf of Seaquest and Mr Fielding on behalf of BCP. The only payment pursuant to this licence credited to BCP has been a payment of £48,000 made in about 01.00.
3.11 On 25.02.00 HHJ Behrens declared that Ultraframe was the sole beneficial shareholder of Northstar and Seaquest and that further shares issued to Mr Fielding were invalid.
3.12 On 01.03.00 Mr Fielding appointed the Receiver to be administrative receiver of the property of Seaquest pursuant to the Seaquest Debenture. Mr Fielding claims that Seaquest is indebted to him for not less than about £330,360 but that is disputed. The Receiver remains in office, but has no realisable property under his control and has made no distributions to Mr Fielding or any other creditor.
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3.14 On 10.04.00 Seaquest went into members voluntary liquidation and the Liquidator was appointed liquidator. On 3.5.01 it went into creditors voluntary liquidation and the Liquidator remains in office. Apart from a debt of £330,360 claimed by Mr Fielding to be secured by his debenture (which debt and debenture are disputed) and a claim (which depends on Ultraframe succeeding in its appeal (paragraph 4.9 below), the amount owed to unsecured creditors is very small and probably less than £5,000. As things stand no creditor can receive any payment, but if Actions 2 and/or 3 succeed, the value of the claims should realise sufficient to pay creditors in full and produce a substantial surplus for Ultraframe as shareholder.
3.15 By sub-licence dated 19.02.01 BCP granted TBG an irrevocable worldwide sub-licence from 23.11.99 to 31.12.04 of such rights as were properly licensed to BCP under its licence in consideration of TBG agreeing to manufacture and supply BCP with goods made to the designs there mentioned and to pay BCP £108,000. TBG has not made any payment under this sub-licence.
3.16 On 9.2.01 and 28.3.02 TBG took assignments of IPR in conservatory roofing systems and infringement claims, if any from NISL, QL, QCL and QWL.
Part C - Summary of the Actions
4. The Leeds Consolidated Action
4.1 The Trustees in Bankruptcy began two actions in Leeds - CH 1998 O/S 392 and CH 1998 O/S 418 in November and December 1998 (Bundle 1). The first of these actions was commenced against Mr Clayton, Mr Birkett and Mr Naden seeking a declaration of ownership of the shares of Northstar, Seaquest and another company Amberdale Limited and other associated relief (Bundle 1, Pages 1-52). The second of these actions was commenced after Mr Fielding had brought to the Trustees' attention his claim to the shares of Northstar and Seaquest. This action Fielding by Northstar and Seaquest, a declaration of ownership of IPR in the Quickfit system, an Order setting aside the assignment of IPR from Northstar to Seaquest and equitable compensation for breach of trust and unlawful conspiracy for injuring the Trustees in Bankruptcy as beneficial owners of the shares in Northstar and Seaquest (Bundle 1, Pages 1-52).
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4.2 The two actions which comprise the Leeds Action were consolidated by Order of the court on 29.01.99 (Bundle 1, Pages 133-135). On 31.03.99 Davies' Trustees assigned to Ultraframe various rights, including the claims in the Leeds actions. Defences were served (Bundle 1, Pages 60-120).
4.3 On 25.02.00 Ultraframe obtained Summary Judgment determining that it was the owner of all the shares in Northstar and Seaquest (Bundle 1, Pages 136-140).
4.4 As security for its cross-undertaking in damages under Orders dated 13.4.00 and 15.12.00, which prevented the disposal of IPR, Ultraframe provided the Leeds Security under which £500,000 plus interest stands to the credit of a designated client account of Eversheds (Bundle 1, Pages 146-150).
4.5 Having established its right to the shares in Northstar and Seaquest, Ultraframe began the London Action on 15.03.01 (Bundle 4). Ultraframe claim to be the owner of "the design right that subsists in the designs of the shape of configuration of the component parts of the conservatory roof system known as the Quick/it system", later identified as the London Designs.
4.6 In August 2001 Mr Fielding applied for an Order to strike out the remaining claims in the Leeds Action, his application being met by a cross application from Ultraframe for permission to discontinue, provided that its costs of the Leeds Action were paid. On 8.8.01 HHJ Langan dismissed both applications, ordered that the London Action be transferred to the Leeds District Registry for case management with the Leeds Action (Bundle 1, Pages 151-153).
4.7 A Case Management Conference was held on 31.10.01 and HHJ Behrens gave directions for the trial of preliminary issues in the Leeds Action and the London Action (Bundle 4, Pages 173-179). On 05.12.01 HHJ Behrens directed that the following issues be tried in the Actions prior to the remaining issues: "(1) whether or not design right subsists in any of the designs pleaded in [the London ActionJ; (2) ownership of any such design rights as are held to subsist; (3) the extent to which components marketed by [Northstar, Sea quest and TBG] are infringing copies of the said designs and consequently infringing articles within the meaning of the CDPA 1988; (4) to what extent [TBG, … .. Northstar and/or Seaquest] and each of them are liable to [Ultraframe] for infringement of such design rights; (5) the relief (if any) consequential on the determination of (1) - (4)". The Order went
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on to provide that there should not be considered with the preliminary issue questions as to (a) the personal liability of the Fieldings and others, (b) Fielding's alleged dishonest participation in a scheme to divert IPR from Davies' Trustees, and (c) quantum of damage (Bundle 4, Pages 173-179).
4.8 Laddie S tried the Preliminary Issues in 07.02 and gave Judgment on 03.10.02 (Bundle 4, Pages 180-216) holding that there were subsisting design rights, infringed by TBG's K2 system, but that they belonged to Mr Davies' companies since he made them as employee. An Order was finally drawn up and entered on 19.03.03, which (1) dismissed Ultraframe's claim, (2) (subject to a proviso) declared that Northstar is the owner of 20 of the London Designs, QCL is the owner of 2 of the London Designs, and NISL is the owner of the finial, all of which were subsisting, (3) identified the components in the K2 system dealt in by TBG which infringed the London Designs and (4) having expressed the view that all outstanding proceedings should be managed together ordered that costs be reserved to the Judge trying the Leeds Consolidated Action (Bundle 4, Pages 228-232).
4.9 With permission of Aldous LJ dated 26.03.03 Ultraframe has appealed against part of the Order dated 14.02.03 and seeks an Order declaring that it is the owner of the London Designs and an Order for payment of its costs of the Preliminary Issues (among other costs orders). Mr and Mrs Fielding and TBG have served a Respondents' Notice seeking to uphold the judgment on alternative grounds to the effect that Mr Davies made the London Designs pursuant to a commission or that he held them on trust for the relevant companies. With the permission of Aldous LJ dated 04.04.03, Mr and Mrs Fielding and TBG have appealed against part of the Order dated 14.02.03 and seek an Order for payment of their costs of the Preliminary Issues. These Appeals will be heard over two days in the week beginning 17.11.03.
4.10 On 11.03.03 Mr Fielding applied to strike out the Leeds Action (Bundle 1, Pages 154-158), supported by a statement of Nicholas Harold Rudgard (Bundle 1, Pages
159-171). By agreement, this application has been adjourned and may be restored after determination by the Court of Appeal of the Appeals referred to in paragraph above. Ultraframe has not yet served evidence in opposition.
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4.11 By Consent Order entered on 08.07.03 the Leeds Consolidated Action was transferred to London for case management with the New Action and the New IP Action.
4.12 The current state of the Leeds Consolidated Action is therefore as follows:
(1) It continues against the Defendants Mr Fielding, Mr Clayton and Mr Naden. It was stayed against Mr Birkett. Although it has not been stayed against Northstar and Seaquest, they remain party simply to be bound by any judgments.
(2) Ultraframe has succeeded in establishing its ownership of the shares in Northstar and Seaquest and has defeated Mr Fielding's claim.
(3) Subject to appeal, Ultraframe has failed in its claim to ownership of the IPR.
(4) The validity of the Northstar and Seaquest Debentures has not been determined. Now that Ultraframe has established that it owns the shares in Northstar and Seaquest, it has put the Liquidator in funds to pursue the New Action, in which Northstar and Seaquest challenge the Northstar and Seaquest Debentures and the debts claimed by Mr Fielding.
(5) Ultraframe's claims against Mr Fielding, Mr Clayton and Mr Naden for equitable compensation for breach of trust and conspiracy remain to be determined. Those issues may be determined with the New Action.
5. The New Action
5.1 On 27.11.02 the Liquidator caused Northstar and Seaquest to begin the New
5.2 Action, in which they claim against Mr and Mrs Fielding, BCP, TBG, Mr Naden and Mr Clayton, among other things (1) declarations that the Northstar Debenture, the Loan Agreement, (3) proprietary relief in respect of all assets of BCP and TBG deriving from Northstar and Seaquest, and (4) accounts of profits and equitable compensation (Bundle 2, Pages 1-54). The foundation of this claim are the events described in paragraph 3.8 above and its potential value is very large indeed, having regard to the substantial sales and profits achieved by TBG as a result of acquiring the business of Northstar and Seaquest in the way that it did (including
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the IPR, if it belongs to Northstar and/or Seaquest) . This claim will be pursued whether or not Ultraframe' s appeal succeeds, since the outcome of the appeal does not affect the claims in respect the business and other assets formerly belonging to Northstar and Seaquest.
5.3 In summary, in their defences, the Defendants say that no business was wrongfully taken because such business that was undertaken in relation to the Seaquest system was undertaken by means of licences from Seaquest to BCP and BCP to TBG. In addition the business that was originally hived up into TBG came from other profitable business activities of Mr Fielding. Further, TBG counterclaims for damages for infringement of the three designs that Laddie J held that belong to NISL or QCL and 15 other designs said to have been used in the Quickfit system and which it acquired from NISL, QL, QCL or QWL. On 20.6.03 Northstar and Seaquest served a Reply and Defence to Counterclaim (Bundle 2, Pages 254-261).
5.3 On 24 July 2003 a Part 20 Claim Form was served by Mr Naden on Edwin Birkett (Bundle 2, Pages 289-300). A general extension of time for service of the Defence was granted given that a Mediation had been fixed for 30 September 2003 (see paragraph 8.1 below). The solicitors acting for Mr Naden and for Mr Birkett are in discussion regarding a time for service of the Defence.
5.4 All Defendants except Mr Naden applied for security for costs. By deed dated 26.6.03 Ultraframe plc has given a guarantee, on the terms there set out and limited to £500,000, to secure the costs of Mr and Mrs Fielding, BCP and TBG in the New Action. Ultraframe has attempted by deed to give a guarantee to secure the costs of Mr Clayton in the New Action. However, although this deed was executed by Ultraframe and sent to Mr Clayton's solicitors on 25.3.03, it has not been executed by Mr Clayton or returned and dated, so that the status of this deed is unclear.
5.5 On 30.5.03 the Liquidator issued an application for an Order for that the New Action be heard together with The New IP Action and the Leeds Consolidated Action and that they all be case managed together. This application was listed for hearing on 17.7.03 and was consented to by all the parties. On 01.10.03 an Order was sealed providing for the Leeds Consolidated Action, the New Action and the New IP Action to be heard together and for certain directions to apply to them
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(Bundle 2, Pages 286-288).
5.6 On the 03.06.03 Northstar and Seaquest served Requests for Further Information from Mr and Mrs Fielding, BCP Plastics, Mr Clayton and also from Mr Naden (Bundle 2, Pages 262-283).
(1) Mr and Mrs Fielding and BCP Plastics have said that the issue replies should be dealt with at the Case Management Conference. Accordingly Northstar and Seaquest will seek an order that the information sought be given.
(2) On 18.07.03 an Order was made that Mr Naden do file and serve a Response to the Request for Further Information by 4 p.m. on 15 August 2003 and that the Mr Naden do pay the Claimants costs in any event (Bundle 2, Pages 284-285). Mr Naden has not complied with this order.
5.7 On 25.09.03 Northstar issued an application to strike out certain paragraphs of TBG's Counterclaim on the ground of abuse of process (Bundle 3, Pages 160-162). Northstar will invite Master Winegarten to direct that their Application should be heard immediately after Northstar and Seaquest's Application for Summary Judgment referred to in paragraph 6.3 below.
6. The New IP Action
6.1 Following the determination of the preliminary issues referred to in paragraph 4.8 above, it having been determined that Northstar was the owner of the IPR and Laddie J stating that Northstar was the proper Claimant in any new action, on 19.3.03 the Liquidator caused Northstar and Seaquest to begin the New IP Action, in which they claim against Mr and Mrs Fielding and TBG damages for infringement of the London Designs held by Laddie J to belong to Northstar (Bundle 3, Pages 1-98). Messrs Woodcock and Sons are acting for Northstar and Seaquest in this action as Eversheds remain on the record for Ultraframe in relation to the Appeal, Defences have been served and TBG has served a counterclaim. On 18.6.03 Northstar and Seaquest served a Reply and Defence to Counterclaim (Bundle 3, Pages 107-111).
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6,2 By deed dated 26.6.03 Ultraframe plc has given a guarantee, on the terms there set out and limited to £100,000, to secure the costs of Mr and Mrs Fielding, and TBG in the New IP Action.
6.3 On 25.9.03 Northstar and Seaquest issued an application for summary judgment, supported by witness statements of the Liquidator and Mr Gold of Eversheds, They seek a direction that this application should be heard as soon as possible in 2004 after the Court of Appeal gives judgment and directions for evidence to achieve that. If the Court of Appeal upholds Laddie J's judgment it follows that the parties are bound by his decision as to Northstar's ownership of the subsisting London Designs and as to TBG's infringement. Northstar and Seaquest contend that the attempt by TBG and the Fieldings to relitigate matters decided by Laddie J or which ought to have been raised before him is an abuse of the process. In the event that the Court of Appeal uphold Laddie J's judgment, the Liquidator of Northstar and Seaquest is anxious that the application for Summary Judgment be allowed to proceed without further delay given the long history of litigation and the fact that there will have already been many months delay during the period leading up to the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
7. Proposed Directions
On 10 October 2003 Eversheds wrote to the various solicitors acting for the Defendants in Leeds Consolidated Action, the New Action and the New IP Action with proposed directions.
8. Mediation - The Actions
8.1 On 30 September and 1 October a mediation was held in respect of the Actions attended by representatives for Ultraframe, the Liquidator of Northstar and Seaquest, the Burnden Group, Mr and Mrs Fielding and Mr Naden. Regrettably, a resolution to the Actions was not achieved.
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"BCP" BCP Plastics Ltd, company number 03667295, incorporated 13.11.98
"Mr Birkett" Edwin Birkett, a former director of Northstar and Seaquest
"CDDA 86" The Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986
"Mr Clayton" Alan Clayton, a defendant
"Mr Davies" Gerald Howard Davies, the Bankrupt
"Eversheds" Eversheds LLP, Manchester, solicitors for Ultraframe and also for Northstar and Seaquest in the New Action
"Mr Fielding" Gary John Fielding
"Mrs Fielding" Sally Anne Fielding
"IA 86" Insolvency Act 1986
"IPR" Intellectual property rights, including design rights, copyright and patent or any such rights
"the Leeds Actions" The actions in the High Court of Justice, commenced in the Leeds District Registry, numbered CH 1998 O/S 392 and CH 1998 O/S 418, consolidated by order dated 29.1.99
"the Leeds Security" The deposit of £500,000 in a client account of Eversheds as security for Ultraframe's undertaking in damages under orders in the Leeds Actions dated 13.4.00 and 15.12.00
"the Liquidator" Michael Thomas Seery of KPMG, the liquidator of Northstar and Seaquest
"the Loan Agreement" The loan agreement dated 22.12.99 concerning the amounts claimed to be owed by Seaquest to Mr Fielding
"the London Action" The Action in the High Court of Justice HC0101170
"the London Designs" The 25 designs rights subsisting in the designs of the shape and configuration of the component parts and assemblies of the conservatory roof system known as Quickfit, claimed by Ultraframe in the London Action
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"Mr Naden" Jeffrey Naden
"NISL" Noise Insulation Services (Manchester) Limited, company number 02403623, incorporated 12.07.89 and dissolved 17.01.95
"Northstar" Northstar Systems Ltd, company number 03203525, incorporated on 24.05.96
"the Northstar Debenture" The debenture dated 17.11.98 issued by Northstar to Mr Fielding
"the Preliminary Issue" The preliminary issue determined in the Leeds and London Actions
"QL" Quickfit Limited, company number 02674936, incorporated 31.12.91 ordered to be wound up on 14.04.94 and dissolved on 21.02.95
"QCL" Quickfit Conservatories Limited, company number 02889354, incorporated 11.01.94 ordered to be wound up on 06.12.94 and dissolved on 23 .05.03
"QWL" Quickfit Windows Limited, company number 02889030, incorporated 11.0 1.94 ordered to be wound up on 12.03.96 and dissolved on 07.05.03
"the Receiver" Philip Long of PKF, the receiver of Northstar and Seaquest
"Mr Roche" Howard Roche t/a Helix Agencies
"Seaquest" Seaquest Systems Ltd, company number 03490187, incorporated on 08.01.98.
"the Seaquest Debenture" The debenture dated 6.11.98 issued by Seaquest to Mr Fielding
"TBG" The Burnden Group PLC, company number 03699435, incorporated on 21.01.99
"the Trustees in Bankruptcy" David Waterhouse and Patrick Boyden of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the trustees in bankruptcy of Mr Davies
"Ultrafrarne" Ultraframe (UK) Ltd, company number 01765701
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Ultraframe (UK) Limited | Eversheds LLP 70 Great Bridgewater Street Manchester Ml 5ES |
Northstar Systems Limited (in liquidation) Seaquest Systems Limited (in liquidation) The New Action |
Eversheds LLP 70 Great Bridgewater Street Manchester Ml 5ES |
Northstar Systems Limited (in liquidation) Seaquest Systems Limited (in liquidation) The New IP Action |
Woodcock & Sons 12 Manchester Road Bury BL9 ODX |
Gary Fielding Sally Fielding The Burnden Group Plc BCP Plastics Limited |
Addleshaw Goddard 100 Barbirolli Square Manchester M2 3AB |
Jeffrey Naden | Hill Dickinson 50 Fountain Street Manchester M2 2AS |
Edwin Birkett | Forbes & Partners Rutherford House 4 Wellington Street Blackburn Lancashire BB1 8DD |
Alan Clayton | Peter D Greenhalgh 10 Edward Street Glossop Derbyshire SK13 7AF |
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