Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd v Telstra Corporation Limited [2005] FCA 1365

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd v Telstra Corporation Limited [2005] FCA 1365 PRACTICE & PROCEDURE – applicant exclusive dealer of mobile phone services for respondent – respondent claims that commissions paid to applicant exceeded "cap" as specified in written dealership agreement – notice issued by respondent requiring repayment of alleged overpayment – applicant claims respondent gave oral assurance in pre-contractual negotiations that "cap" would not be enforced – applicant further claims amount of overpayment miscalculated – application for interlocutory injunction restraining respondent from requiring applicant to pay amount of alleged overpayment or treating failure to pay as grounds for termination of dealership agreement – claim in promissory estoppel – claim for breach of contract – whether either claim gives rise to a serious question to be tried – whether balance of convenience favours grant of interlocutory relief – whether discretionary factors operate to prevent such relief being granted American Cyanamid Co v Ethicon Ltd [1975] AC 396 referred to Anaconda Nickel Ltd v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd (2004) 50 ACSR 679 referred to Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Limited (2001) 208 CLR 199 referred to Australian Coarse Grain Pool Pty Ltd v Barley Marketing Board of Queensland (1982) 57 ALJ 425 referred to Axxess Australia Pty Ltd v Primus Telecommunications (Aust) Pty Ltd [2000] VSC 64 referred to Beecham Group Limited v Bristol Laboratories Pty Limited (1968) 118 CLR 618 referred to Bingham v 7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd [2003] QCA 402 referred to Brikom Investments Ltd v Carr [1979] 1 QB 467 referred to Buchanan Group Pty Ltd v Sorgetti [2002] FCA 1646 referred to Bullock v The Federated Furnishing Trades Society of Australasia (No 1) (1985) 5 FCR 464 applied Bunbury Foods Proprietary Limited v National Bank of Australasia Limited (1984) 153 CLR 491 referred to Castlemaine Tooheys Limited v South Australia (1986) 161 CLR 148 referred to Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 referred to Epitoma Pty Ltd v Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (1984) 3 FCR 55 referred to Fletcher Construction Australia Ltd v Varnsdorf Pty Ltd [1998] 3 VR 812 referred to Fletcher v Foodlink Ltd (1995) 60 FCR 262 referred to Foran v Wight (1989) 168 CLR 385 referred to Kolback Securities Ltd v Epoch Mining NL (1987) 8 NSWLR 533 referred to Liristis Holdings Pty Ltd v Q-Corp Marine Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 418 referred to McHattan v Australian Specialised Vehicle Systems Pty Ltd (1996) 34 IPR 537 referred to Mobileworld Communications Pty Ltd v Q & Q Global Enterprise Pty Ltd (2003) 59 IPR 107 referred to Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd v Telstra Corporation Limited [2005] FCA 292 referred to Moonlighting International Pty Ltd v International Lighting Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 41 referred to Patrick Stevedores Operations No 2 Proprietary Limited v Maritime Union of Australia (1998) 195 CLR 1 referred to Philips Electronics NV v Remington Products Australia Pty Ltd (1997) 39 IPR 283 referred to Shercliff v Engadine Acceptance Corporation Pty Ltd [1978] 1 NSWLR 729 referred to Siskina v Distos Compania Naviera SA [1979] AC 210 referred to State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Heath Outdoor Pty Ltd (1986) 7 NSWLR 170 (CA) discussed Tableland Peanuts Pty Ltd v Peanut Marketing Board (1984) 58 ALJ 283 referred to Walton Stores (Interstate) Limited v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 discussed S Jacobs, M McCarthy and D Neggo, Injunctions: Law and Practice (Thomson, 2005) ICF Spry, The Principles of Equitable Remedies (6th ed, LBC Information Services, 2001) RP Meagher, JD Heydon, MJ Leeming, Meagher Gummow and Lehane's Equity Doctrines and Remedies (4th ed, Butterworths LexisNexis, 2002)