The City of Sydney v Streetscape Projects (Australia) Pty Limited & Anor [2011] NSWSC 1214

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The City of Sydney v Streetscape Projects (Australia) Pty Limited & Anor [2011] NSWSC 1214 Hearing dates: 11/4/2011 - 15/4/2011, 1/8/2011 - 5/8/2011, 8/8/2011 - 12/8/2011, 15/8/2011 - 18/8/2011, 22/8/2011 - 26/8/2011, 29/8/2011 - 31/8/2011, 1/9/2011 - 2/9/2011, 5/9/2011 - 9/9/2011, 12/9/2011 - 16/9/2011, 26/9/2011 - 28/9/2011, 30/9/2011 Decision date: 11 October 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Commercial List Before: Einstein J Decision: The Plaintiff is entitled to: 1. Injunctive relief [502] - [506]; 2. Damages [507] - [513]; and 3. Equitable compensation [507] - [513]. The plaintiff may elect for an account of profits [514]. Streetscape Projects (Australia) must deliver up documents and moulds to the City [515] -[543]. Catchwords: Proceedings brought by City of Sydney against Streetscape Projects (Australia) and Mr Moses Obeid in relation to "Smartpole" poles

CONTRACTS - Action for breach of contract - Contractual interpretation - Confidential information - Deeds of variation - Whether particular clauses were penalty clauses - Claim that plaintiffs suffered no loss - Distinction between liquidated damages clause and penalty clause - Damages when proof of loss is difficult - Foreign law- Presumption of identity - Principles for interpreting terms of a contract to avoid capricious consequences

EQUITY - Equitable duty - Duty of confidence - Fiduciary duty - Fiduciary duty under a commercial contract -Accessorial liability - Barnes v Addy

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Ultra Vires - Scope of Local Councils authority - Broad interpretation