Network Ten Pty Ltd v Seven Network (Operations) Ltd [2014] NSWSC 692

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Network Ten Pty Ltd v Seven Network (Operations) Ltd [2014] NSWSC 692 Hearing dates: 14 & 15 May 2014 Decision date: 29 May 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Expedition List Before: Stevenson J Decision: Declare that the Ten Agreement remains on foot; Amended Statement of Claim otherwise dismissed Catchwords: CONTRACT - proper construction of contract of employment - whether second defendant breached provisions of contract - whether conduct complained of occurred during term of employment; TORT - economic tort - whether first defendant knowingly and intentionally induced breach of contract; REMEDIES - injunction - whether second defendant should be restrained from breaching negative covenant in contract of employment - whether granting injunction would have practical effect of a decree of specific performance of contract for personal services Cases Cited: Allen v Flood [1898] AC 1 Allstate Life Insurance Co v Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (1995) 58 FCR 26; 130 ALR 469 Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Wardley (1980) 142 CLR 237 Camellia Tanker Ltd SA v International Transport Workers' Federation [1976] ICR 274 Curro v Beyond Productions Pty Ltd (1993) 30 NSWLR 337 DC Thomson & Co Ltd v Deakin [1952] Ch 646 Electricity Generation Corporation (t/as Verve Energy) v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; 88 ALJR 447 Fightvision Pty Ltd v Onisforou; Tszyu v Fightvision Pty Ltd [1999] NSWCA 323; 47 NSWLR 473 Howard v Pickford Tool Co Ltd [1951] 1 KB 417 Huppert v Stock Options of Australia Pty Limited (1965) 112 CLR 414 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Lumley v Wagner (1852) 1 De GM & G 604; 42 ER 687 Merkur Island Shipping Corporation v Laughton (1983) 2 AC 570 Network Ten Pty Limited v Seven Network (Operations) Limited [2014] NSWSC 274 OBG Limited v Allan; Douglas v Hello! Ltd; Mainstream Properties v Young [2008] 1 AC 1 Oren v Red Box Toy Factory Ltd [1999] FSR 785 Qantas Airways v Transport Workers Union of Australia (2011) 211 IR 1; FCA 470 Rajlaw NSW Pty Ltd v Rajlaw Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1621 Sidhu v Van Dyke [2014] HCA 19 Torquay Hotel Co Limited v Cousins [1969] 2 Ch 106 Tullett Prebon (Australia) Pty Ltd v Purcell [2008] NSWSC 852 Texts Cited: J W Carter, Carter's Breach of Contract, (2011, Lexis Nexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Network Ten Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Seven Network (Operations) Limited (First Defendant) John Stephens (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D B Studdy SC with S Mirzabegian (Plaintiff) A S Bell SC with D F C Thomas (Defendants) Solicitors: Baker & McKenzie (Plaintiff) Johnson Winter & Slattery (Defendants) File Number(s): SC 2014/78504