Clough v Breen [2020] NSWSC 653

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Clough v Breen [2020] NSWSC 653 Hearing dates: 19 May 2020 Date of orders: 19 May 2020 Decision date: 19 May 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Rees J Decision: Interlocutory injunctions granted: see [40] Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – Interlocutory injunctions – inclinator – right of access – AVOs – alleged stalking and intimidation – locks changed – injunction sought to obtain key – mandatory interlocutory injunction –principles at [29]-[34] – whether necessary for plaintiff to establish damage in nuisance – whether unclean hands precluded prima facie case – prima facie case established – whether injunction would cause harm to defendants – balance of convenience favours restoring right of access – injunction granted Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 181A, Schedule 8 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill (2006) 227 CLR 57; [2006] HCA 46 Beecham Group Ltd v Bristol Laboratories Pty Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 618; [1968] HCA 1 Bingham v 7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd [2003] QCA 402 Breen v Clough [2017] NSWSC 1681 Businessworld Computers Pty Ltd v Australian Telecommunications Commission [1988] FCA 127; (1988) 82 ALR 499 Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia (1986) 161 CLR 148 Dering v Earl of Winchelsea (1787) 1 Cox 318 Films Rover International Ltd v Cannon Film Sales Ltd [1987] 1 WLR 670 Gohl v Hender [1930] SASR 158; Hare v van Brugge [2013] NSWCA 74 Hare v van Brugge (2013) 84 NSWLR 41; [2013] NSWCA 74 In the matter of A Twins Spare Parts Pty Limited [2019] NSWSC 1347 Kation Pty Ltd v Lamru Pty Ltd (2009) 257 ALR 336 Mineralogy Pty Ltd v Sino Iron Pty Ltd [2016] WASCA National Commercial Bank Jamaica Ltd v Olint Corporation Ltd [2009] UKPC 16 Racecourse Totalizators Pty Ltd v Totalisator Administration Board of Queensland (1995) 58 FCR 119 at 123; [1995] FCA 1405 Shepherd Homes Ltd v Sandham [1971] Ch 340 Staley v Pivot Group Pty Ltd (No 6) [2010] WASC 228 Tymbook Pty Ltd v State of Victoria (2006) 15 VR 65; [2006] VSCA 89 Warner-Lambert Co LCC v Apotex Pty Ltd (2014) 311 ALR 632; [2014] FCAFC 59 Texts Cited: Heydon, Leeming & Turner, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines and Remedies (5th ed., LexisNexis, 2014) J D Heydon in Heydon on Contract: The General Part (Lawbook Co, 2019) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Christine Clough (Plaintiff) Douglas Breen (First Defendant) Tracey Dillon (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr DP O'Connor (Plaintiff) Ms T Davy (Defendants)