Specsavers Pty Ltd v The Optical Superstore Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] FCA 504

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Specsavers Pty Ltd v The Optical Superstore Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] FCA 504 Citation: Specsavers Pty Ltd v The Optical Superstore Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] FCA 504

Parties: SPECSAVERS PTY LTD (ACN 097 147 932) v THE OPTICAL SUPERSTORE PTY LTD (ACN 095 737 894), OPTOM ADMIN PTY LTD (ACN 101 150 449), WILLIAM CHIN, NORTHERN COAST OPTICAL PTY LTD (ACN 006 873 758), TOWNSVILLE OPTICAL PTY LTD (ACN 097 398 019), BUNDABERG OPTICAL PTY LTD (ACN 131 317 676), UNIQUE EYEWEAR PTY LTD (ACN 006 251 305) and IPSWICH OPTICAL PTY LTD (ACN 082 352 350)

File number(s): NSD 119 of 2010

Judges: KATZMANN J

Date of judgment: 17 May 2012

Catchwords: DAMAGES – interlocutory injunction to restrain broadcast of television commercial – usual undertaking as to damages – applicant's claim failed – assessment of damages – claim for loss of profits said to result from lost opportunity to continue advertising – whether any compensable loss – measurement of loss – likely duration of campaign – difficulties associated with measuring relationship between increased sales and particular advertising campaigns – whether selected advertising campaigns suitable proxies COSTS – apportionment of costs – applicant only partially successful – applicant failed on claim on which the interlocutory injunction was based – unsuccessful claim took up majority of court time – injunction based on unsuccessful claim gave rise to further hearing on assessment of damages

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 43, 51A

Cases cited: Air Express Ltd v Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd (1979) 146 CLR 249 Commonwealth v Amman Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64 Ellis v Wallsend District Hospital (1989) 17 NSWLR 553 EMI Songs Australia Pty Limited v Larrikin Music Publishing Pty Ltd [2011] FCAFC 92 Enzed Holdings Ltd v Wynthea Pty Ltd (1984) 57 ALR 167 European Bank Ltd v Evans (2010) 240 CLR 432 HG v The Queen (1999) 197 CLR 414 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kowalski v Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd (2011) 198 FCR 153 Lindsay Petroleum Co v Hurd (1874) LR 5 PC 221 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL & Ors (1994) 179 CLR 332 Specsavers Pty Ltd v The Optical Superstore Pty Ltd (No. 2) [2010] FCA 566 TS & B Retail Systems Pty Ltd v 3Fold Resources Pty Ltd (No 3) (2007) 158 FCR 444 JD Heydon, Cross on Evidence, LexisNexis, 8th edition, [17460]