Janala Pty Ltd v Hardaker [2022] NSWSC 822

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Janala Pty Ltd v Hardaker [2022] NSWSC 822 Hearing dates: 3, 6 June 2022 Date of orders: 17 June 2022 Decision date: 22 June 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Richmond J Decision: See [3], [4], [74]. Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW — contract — restraint of trade — interlocutory injunction — where defendant has provided undertakings in relation to non-solicitation of employees and customers — where remaining issue in dispute in relation to interlocutory relief is whether defendant should be restricted from working for the plaintiff's competitor in any capacity — whether in the alternative the defendant should be permitted to work for the plaintiff's competitor in a limited capacity without client contact — interlocutory relief granted in the form sought by the defendants referred to as the "warehouse proposal" Legislation Cited: Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW) s 4 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 Brusa v Brusa [2020] WASC 362 Dundoen Pty Ltd v Richard Wills (Real Estate) Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1534 Durie Design Pty Ltd v Chiodo Corporation Operations Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 949 Electroboard Administration v O'Brien [1999] NSWCA 452 HiTech Group Australia Ltd v Riachi [2021] NSWSC 1212 Isaac v Dargan Financial Pty Ltd (2018) 98 NSWLR 343; [2018] NSWCA 163 Jardin v Metcash Ltd [2011] NSWCA 409; 285 ALR 677 Kolback Securities Ltd v Epoch Mining NL (1987) 8 NSWLR 533 Kone Elevators Pty Ltd v McNay (1997) ATPR 41‑564 Petar v Macedonian Orthodox Community Church St Petka Incorporated [2007] NSWCA 142 SAI Global Property Division Pty Ltd v Jones [2018] NSWSC 438 Stacks Taree Pty Ltd v Marshall (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 77 Tullett Prebon (Australia) Pty Ltd v Purcell [2008] NSWSC 852; 175 IR 414 Verint Systems (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sutherland [2019] NSWSC 882 Westpoint Finance Pty Ltd v Chocolate Factory Apartments Ltd [2002] NSWCA 287; 12 BPR 22,969 Woolworths Ltd v Olson [2004] NSWCA 372; 55 AILR 200-133 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, The Restraint of Trade Doctrine (4th ed, 2018, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Janala Pty Limited (Plaintiff) Lonnie Hardaker (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Fernon SC with A Vial (Plaintiff) P Greenwood SC with D Reynolds (Defendant)