Elco Food Co Pty Ltd v Oliana Foods Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 410

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Elco Food Co Pty Ltd v Oliana Foods Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 410 Citation: Elco Food Co Pty Ltd v Oliana Foods Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 410

Parties: ELCO FOOD CO PTY LTD (ACN 005 711 295) v OLIANA FOODS PTY LTD (ACN 140 768 716) and DODONI SA AGRICULTURAL DAIRY INDUSTRY OF EPIRUS

File number: VID 311 of 2012

Judge: JESSUP J

Date of judgment: 20 April 2012

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Claim for interlocutory injunction – Established Australian reseller of cheese products from Greek supplier – Greek contract – Choice of Greek forum – Whether sale of products to another Australian distributor would constitute breach of contract – Whether other distributor induced breach of contract – Whether prima facie case made out – Strength of case – Where balance of convenience lay – Whether damages adequate remedy – Choice between restraining new Australian distributor and allowing parties to perform both existing contracts in same market..

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)

Cases cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill (2006) 227 CLR 57 Beecham Group Ltd v Bristol Laboratories Pty Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 618 Global Partners Fund Ltd v Babcock & Brown Ltd (in liquidation) (2010) NSWCA 196 Global Partners Fund Ltd v Babcock & Brown Ltd (in liquidation) (2010) 267 ALR 144 Huddart Parker Ltd v The Ship "Mill Hill" and Her Cargo (1950) 81 CLR 502 Incitec Ltd v Alkimos Shipping Corporation (2004) 138 FCR 496 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd v Apple Inc [2011] FCAFC 156 Visions Systems Ltd v Cincom Systems of Australia Pty Ltd (1999) 43 IPR 658