CONTRACTS — interlocutory application by the plaintiff seeking injunctive relief against the defendant, a former employee — where defendant had established her own business and admitted to soliciting the plaintiff’s clients — where the defendant’s employment agreement included post-employment restraint of trade clauses — whether contractual obligations survived the termination of the employment agreement in circumstances where the defendant alleged that the plaintiff had repudiated the agreement — enforceability of restraint of trade clauses — balance of convenience — insufficiently strong prima facie case to justify interlocutory relief beyond undertakings offered by the defendant — orders sought by the plaintiff imprecise and uncertain — subject to undertakings to the Court by the defendant, interlocutory application refused
EQUITY — confidential information — where plaintiff alleged that defendant had retained and made use of confidential information gained during the course of her employment — where plaintiff sought injunction to enforce equitable, statutory and contractual obligations of confidence — insufficiently strong prima facie case to justify interlocutory relief beyond undertakings offered by the defendant — orders sought by the plaintiff were imprecise and uncertain — injunction refused
EQUITY — whether plaintiff should be denied relief due to unclean hands — equitable principle does not apply
TORTS — where plaintiff sought orders to prevent defendant from inducing clients to breach their contracts of engagement of the plaintiff — insufficiently strong prima facie case to justify interlocutory relief — injunction refused
Recent cases about breach of confidence
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Vitaco Health IP Pty Ltd v AFI Cosmetic Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 1463
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for interlocutory injunction – ex parte application – strong prima facie case of trade mark and copyright infringement, and breach of s 18 and s 29 of the Australian Consumer Law – First Respondent’s two websites use the applicants’ logos and other branded content, and falsely indicate the First Respondent…
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StarTrack Express Pty Ltd v TMA Australia Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 1271
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – interlocutory application for urgent injunctive relief – where urgent injunctive relief sought to restrain respondent from operating an ecommerce website – whether there is a prima facie case that favours injunctive relief – alleged breach of contractual restraint – alleged breach of contractual term not to use confidential information – misleading…
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Native Extracts Pty Ltd v Plant Extracts Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 1265
CONTRACT – restraint of trade – confidentiality clause – admissions made of breaches of contract during hearing of trial in relation to competing business – certain relief granted at conclusion of trial CONSUMER LAW – admitted breaches of Australian Consumer Law – injunctions and corrective advertising ordered before final judgment in interests of consumers COPYRIGHT…
