The Star Pty Ltd v AB [2024] NSWSC 690

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Star Pty Ltd v AB [2024] NSWSC 690 Hearing dates: 3 June 2024 Date of orders: 3 June 2024 Decision date: 03 June 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Meek J Decision: Permanent injunction granted and suppression orders made. Catchwords: INJUNCTIONS — Permanent injunction — AB applied for employment with P and in a domestic relationship with an employee (CD) of P — P declined to employ AB following results of probity checks — AB without consent of CD obtains access to sensitive database information held by P — AB by text message to P seeks termination of CD's employment with P at the threat of exposure of confidential details of P's patrons — P obtains urgent interlocutory relief and seeks permanent restraining order — AB fails to appear on the hearing — Court satisfied AB notified of the hearing — Held interlocutory injunction made permanent INJUNCTIONS — Permanent injunction — Nature of a permanent injunction CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION — Consideration of the requirements to establish a case of threatened misuse of confidential information accessed impermissibly and restraint relief — "Theft" of confidential records coupled with an attempted misuse in the nature of extortion readily gives rise to a sound action for breach of confidence — Discussion of sort of confidential information and risk of misuse as to justify permanent injunctive relief as distinct from interlocutory relief CIVIL PROCEDURE — No appearance by defendant — Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 29.7 — Whether defendant "absent" within the meaning of r 29.7 — Court satisfied defendant had notice of hearing by email CIVIL PROCEDURE — Hearings — Suppression and non-publication orders — Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) ("Act") — Whether suppression order should be made on the basis that it is necessary: to prevent prejudice to the proper administration of justice pursuant to s 8(1)(a) of the Act; to protect the safety of any person pursuant to s 8(1)(c) of the Act; and in the public interest pursuant to s 8(1)(e) of the Act Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Ltd v Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 430; (2012) 295 ALR 348 Attorney-General v Guardian Newspapers Ltd (No 2) [1990] 1 AC 109 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 199; [2001] HCA 63 Australian Football League v Age Co Ltd (2006) 15 VR 419; [2006] VSC 308 Australian Hardboards Ltd v Hudson Investment Group Ltd (2007) 70 NSWLR 201; [2007] NSWCA 104 Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71; [1996] HCA 57 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation v Perry (1988) 53 SASR 538 Corrs Pavey Whiting & Byrne v Collector of Customers (Vic) (1987) 14 FCR 434; [1987] FCA 266 Elite Realty Development Pty Ltd v Sadek [2022] NSWSC 1333 Farm Transparency International Ltd v New South Wales [2022] HCA 23; (2022) 403 ALR 1 Filby v TEG Live Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 320 HWL Ebsworth Lawyers v Persons Unknown [2024] NSWSC 71 Moorgate Tobacco Co Ltd v Philip Morris Ltd (No 2) (1984) 156 CLR 414; [1984] HCA 73 NSW Trustee & Guardian as Executor of the Will of Michael Robert Walsh (Deceased) v Gregory [2012] NSWSC 681; (2012) 18 BPR 35,153 Optus Networks Pty Ltd v Telstra Corporation Ltd [2010] FCAFC 21; (2010) 265 ALR 281 Permewan Wright Consolidated Pty Ltd v Attorney-General (NSW) (1978) 35 NSWLR 365 PML v Persons Unknown [2018] EWHC 838 (QB) Re Rosie (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1750 XXX v Persons Unknown [2022] EWHC 2776 (KB) Texts Cited: Court Forms, Precedents & Pleadings Vic (LexisNexis) Dal Pont, G E, Law of Confidentiality (2nd ed, 2020, LexisNexis) Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure NSW Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Star Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) AB (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P Afshar with D Emmerig (Plaintiff)