Narellan Franchise Pty Ltd v RBME Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 988

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Narellan Franchise Pty Ltd v RBME Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 988 Hearing dates: 22 - 24 June 2022 Date of orders: 25 July 2022 Decision date: 25 July 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Richmond J Decision: See [3] and [99]-[112]. Catchwords: COMMERCE — restraint of trade — interlocutory relief — whether there is a serious question to be tried that the post-contract restraint in the franchise agreement is valid — whether the balance of convenience favours the granting of interlocutory relief Legislation Cited: Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW) Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill (2006) 227 CLR 57; [2006] HCA 46 BB Australia Pty Ltd v Karioi Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 347; 278 ALR 105 Beecham Group Ltd v Bristol Laboratories Pty Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 618; [1968] HCA 1 Carewatch Care Services Ltd v Focus Caring Services Ltd [2014] EWHC 2313 Chipsaway International Ltd v Kerr [2009] EWCA Civ 320 JH Coles Pty Ltd v Need [1934] AC 82 Doggett v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2015] VSCA 351; 47 VR 302 Dyno-Rod Plc v Reeve (1999) FSR 148 Favotto Family Restaurants Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2020] NSWSC 120 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Murry (1998) 193 CLR 605; [1998] HCA 42 HiTech Group Australia Ltd v Riachi [2021] NSWSC 1212 Isaac v Dargan Financial Pty Ltd (2018) 98 NSWLR 343; [2018] NSWCA 163 KA & C Smith Pty Ltd v Ward (1998) 45 NSWLR 702 Kolback Securities Ltd v Epoch Mining NL (1987) 8 NSWLR 533 Lu v Lim (1993) 30 NSWLR 332 Okotaks Ltd v Fine & Country Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 672 Peart Stevenson Associates Ltd v Holland [2008] EWHC 1868 PSG Franchising Ltd v Lydia Darby Ltd [2012] EWHC 3707 Raine & Horne Pty Ltd v Adacol Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 36 SAI Global Property Division Pty Ltd v Jones [2018] NSWSC 438; 277 IR 335 SJD Group Ltd v. KJM (Scotland) Ltd [2010] CSOH 13 The Flat Roof Co Ltd v Bowden [2009] EWHC 2894 (Ch) Texts Cited: JD Heydon, The Restraint of Trade Doctrine (4th ed, 2018, LexisNexis Butterworths) at 337 C Wadlow, Wadlow on the Law of Passing Off (6th ed, 2021, Sweet & Maxwell) Macquarie Dictionary P Herzfeld and T Prince, Interpretation (2nd ed, 2020, Thomson Reuters) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Narellan Franchise Pty Ltd (First Plaintiff) Narellan Pools Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff) RBME Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Tim Ranieri (Second Defendant) Matthew John Ranieri (Third Defendant) T & M Pools Pty Ltd (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J King (Plaintiffs) A Fernon SC (Defendants) Solicitors: Maddocks Lawyers (Plaintiffs) MDW Law (Defendants) File Number(s): 2022/168564