Steadfast IRS Pty Limited v Latchmi Mesuria [2020] NSWSC 947

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Steadfast IRS Pty Limited v Latchmi Mesuria [2020] NSWSC 947 Hearing dates: 11 June and 24 June 2020 Decision date: 27 July 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity - Expedition List Before: Sackar J Decision: See [116]-[117] Catchwords: CONTRACTS — Termination — Repudiation of contract — Whether business restructure led to repudiation of employment contract — Where employee relocated from Sydney to Melbourne — Where restructure led to change in job title and reporting lines EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW — Contract — Restraint of trade — Whether non-solicitation restraint unreasonable or against public policy — Whether defendant had sufficient customer connection and access to confidential information to justify restraint — Where defendant was an experienced insurance broker with large client portfolio — Whether duration of restraint reasonable — Where restraint period defined as "cascading" periods of restraint ranging from twelve months down to three months after the end of the employment Legislation Cited: Restraints of Trade Act (NSW) Cases Cited: Adamson v New South Wales Rugby League Limited (1981) 27 FCR 535 Amoco Australia Pty Ltd v Rocca Bros Motor Engineering Co Pty Ltd (1973) 133 CLR 288 Bulk Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Excell [2014] TASSC 58; 24 Tas R 471 Cactus Imaging Pty Ltd v Peters (2006) 71 NSWLR 9 Cameron v Asciano Services Limited [2011] VSC 36 CGI Glass Lewis Pty Ltd v Vasey [2019] NSWSC 794 Crowe v Holwarth (Aust) Pty Limited v Loone [2017] VSCA 181 Dr Angel-Honnibal v Idameneo (NO 123) Pty Ltd (2003) 59 IPR 184; [2003] NSWCA 263 Easling v Mahoney Insurance Brokers (2001) 78 SASR 489 Hanna v OAMPS [2010] NSWCA 267 Idameno (No 123) Pty Ltd v Dr Therese Angel-Honnibal [2003] ATPR ¶41-918; [2002] NSWSC 1214 Izaac v Dargan Financial Pty Ltd (2018) 98 NSWLR 343 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Birt [2006] NSWSC 995 Keays v JP Morgan Administrative Services Ltd [2012] FCAFC 100 Landmark Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd v Kilborn [2006] NSWSC 1108 Laurinda Pty Ltd v Capalaba Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd (1989) 166 CLR 623 McDonald v Denny Lascelles (1933) 48 CLR 457 Nordenfelt v Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Co Ltd [1894] AC 535 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Ltd v Hanna [2010] NSWSC 781 Orton v Melman (1981) 1 NSWLR 583 Otis Elevator Company Pty Limited v John Nolan [2007] NSWSC 593 Paul Fishlock v The Campaign Palace Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 531 Popham Holdings Pty Ltd v Franklin [2016] VSC 597 Portal Software v Bodsworth [2005] NSWSC 1179 Russ Australia Pty Ltd v Benny [2006] NSWSC 1118 Seven Network (Operations) Ltd v Warburton (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 386; 206 IR 450 Shell UK Ltd v Lostock Garage Ltd [1976] 1 LR 1187 Shevill v Builders Licensing Board (1982) 149 CLR 620 Stenhouse Australia Ltd v Phillips [1974] AC 391 Tullett Prebon (Australia) v Simon Purcell [2008] NSWSC 852 Woolworths Ltd v Olson [2004] NSWCA 372 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, The Restraint of Trade Doctrine (Butterworths, 4th ed, 2018) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Steadfast IRS Pty Limited (plaintiff) Latchmi Mesuria (defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Mahendra (plaintiff) C Cassimatis (defendant)