Telecom Vanuatu Ltd v Optus Networks Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 951

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Telecom Vanuatu Ltd v Optus Networks Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 951

HEARING DATE(S) : 09/09/05

JUDGMENT DATE : 23 September 2005

Equity Division JURISDICTION : Commercial List

JUDGMENT OF : White J

DECISION : 1. Dismiss the defendant's notice of motion of 9 August 2005; 2. defendant pay the plaintiff's costs of the notice of motion.

CATCHWORDS : PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - Application to have part of the pleadings struck out - Plaintiff pleads tort of conversion in respect of intangible property - Applicant argues that the claim is untenable - No material advantage in preparation or conduct of the case if impugned allegations struck out - Issue is whether claim is reasonably arguable at an appellate level - Application dismissed.

Telecommunications Act 1977 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED : Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 (UK)

In re Fontainebleau Hotel Corporation; South Central Bell Telephone Company v Simons 1975, 508 F2d 1056 Baltic Shipping Co. v Dillon (1993) 176 CLR 344 Ferguson v Eakin (27 August 1997, unreported, Cole JA) Penfold Wines Pty Ltd v Elliott (1946) 74 CLR 204 Balkin & Davis, Law of Torts, 3 ed McLachlan v Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (1987) 13 BCLR (2D) 300; (1989) 57 DLR (4th) 687 Royal Bank of Canada v W Got & Associates Electric Ltd (1994) 150 AR 93; 196 AR 241; [1999] 3 SCR 408 Kavcar Investments Ltd v Aetna Financial Services Ltd (unreported, 11 April 1986, Ontario Supreme Court, Hollingworth J) CASES CITED : OBG Ltd v Allan [2005] 2 WLR 1174 Kremen v Online Classifieds inc. (2003) 337 F 3rd 1024 Payne v Elliot 54 Cal 339 (1880) Re-statement (2nd) of Torts s 242 (1965) Wickstead v Browne (1992) 30 NSWLR 1 Williams & Humbert v W & H Trade Marks (Jersey) Ltd [1986] AC 368 Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia v Hunt (1982) 44 ALR 365 Gibson v Parkes District Hospital (1991) 26 NSWLR 9