Birdon Pty Ltd v Houben Marine Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 1313

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Birdon Pty Ltd v Houben Marine Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 1313 Citation: Birdon Pty Ltd v Houben Marine Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 1313

Parties: BIRDON PTY LTD (ABN 59 002 810 255) v HOUBEN MARINE PTY LTD (ACN 14 002 623 396), PHILLIP DAVENPORT and ADJUDICATE TODAY PTY LTD (ABN 39 109 605 021)

File number: NSD 667 of 2011

Judge: RARES J

Date of judgment: 27 October 2011

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTIONS – application for interim injunctions under s 234 of the Australian Consumer Law restraining further progress of adjudication process under Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) – plaintiff alleged first defendant conveyed representations that were misleading or deceptive contrary to s 18 of the Australian Consumer Law – whether prima facie case – strength of prima facie case – balance of convenience – relevance of plaintiff's application for special leave to appeal to High Court of Australia – whether damages are an adequate remedy – sufficient likelihood of success to justify preservation of status quo Held: application for interim injunctions granted

Legislation: Australian Consumer Law ss 18, 234 Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) ss 23(2), 25, 32 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Sch 2

Cases cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill (2006) 227 CLR 57 applied Birdon Pty Ltd v Houben Marine Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 1217 cited Bitannia Pty Limited v Parkline Constructions Pty Limited (2006) 67 NSWLR 9 applied Castlemaine Tooheys Limited v South Australia (1986) 161 CLR 148 considered Jennings Construction Limited v Burgundy Royale Investments Pty Ltd [No. 1] (1986) 161 CLR 681 applied Paringa Mining & Exploration Co plc v North Flinders Mines Limited (1988) 165 CLR 452 cited RJ Neller Building Pty Limited v Ainsworth [2009] 1 Qd R 390 cited