Luxottica Retail Australia Pty Limited v Carr [2006] FCA 774

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Luxottica Retail Australia Pty Limited v Carr [2006] FCA 774

INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION – application for interlocutory injunctions – whether serious question to be tried – restraint of trade clause in employment contract – effect of Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW) – whether damages adequate compensation – whether offer to keep record of customers will overcome quantification difficulties – balance of convenience – whether respondent will gain an unjustified headstart as a competitor of applicant – relevance of offers of re-employment – Held: application for interlocutory relief refused.

Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW) s 4 Australian Securities and Investment Commission v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd (2001) 204 CLR 559 cited Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia (1986) 161 CLR 148 applied Geraghty v Minter (1979) 142 CLR 177 cited Industrial Rollformers Pty Ltd v Ingersoll‑Rand (Australia) Ltd [2001] Aust Contract Reports 90-129 cited LUXOTTICA RETAIL AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED (ACN 000 025 758) v MARTIN CARR AND HINKLER EYEWEAR PTY LTD (ACN 114 834 105) NSD 1155 of 2006 BRANSON J 19 JUNE 2006 SYDNEY IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY NSD 1155 of 2006

BETWEEN: LUXOTTICA RETAIL AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED (ACN 000 025 758)

APPLICANT

AND: MARTIN CARR

FIRST RESPONDENT

HINKLER EYEWEAR PTY LTD

(ACN 114 834 105)

SECOND RESPONDENT

JUDGE: BRANSON J

DATE OF ORDER: 19 JUNE 2006

WHERE MADE: SYDNEY

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1. The application for interlocutory relief be dismissed.

2. The costs of the application for interlocutory relief be reserved. IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY NSD 1155 of 2006