Sterling Winthrop Pty Limited v The Boots Company (Australia) Pty Limited [1995] FCA 991

CATCHWORDS PRACTICE and PROCEDURE - Application to strike out paragraphs of defence - Application to postpone discovery - equitable defence of acquiescence - equitable defence of estoppel - conduct disentitling injunctive relief - remoteness of representations - non-withdrawal of representations - whether any reliance on earlier representations - whether sufficient nexus or proximity of representations - equitable defence of "unclean hands" - whether conduct directly and immediately related to transaction - whether applicant taking advantage of own wrong - relevance of public interest under Trade Practices Act - Application to postpone discovery - whether postponed discovery reduces extent of discovery - whether postponed discovery will reduce time and expense - whether preferable to make discovery before filing evidence. EQUITY - equitable defence of acquiescence - equitable defence of estoppel - equitable defence of "unclean hands" - whether necessary relation to equity sued for - whether protection of own wrong - remoteness. TRADE PRACTICES - conduct disentitling injunctive relief - remoteness of representations - whether reliance on earlier representations - relevance of public interest under Trade Practices Act. Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 53C, 80, 82 and 87

Meagher, Gummow, Lehane, Equitable Doctrines and Remedies 1992, 3rd ed. Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 Glev Pty Ltd v Glev Franchises Pty Ltd (1994) 16 ATPR 41-229 ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1992) 38 FCR 248 FAI Insurances Ltd v Pioneer Concrete Services Ltd (1987) 15 NSWLR 552 Atwood v Small [1835-42] All ER Rep 258 Meyers v Casey (1913) 17 CLR 90 Moody v Cox and Hatt [1917] 2 Ch 71 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 STERLING WINTHROP PTY LIMITED v THE BOOTS COMPANY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LIMITED No NG 605 of 1995 Tamberlin J Sydney 4 December 1995