DXC Connect Pty Ltd v Deibe & Ors [2017] NSWSC 1159

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: DXC Connect Pty Ltd v Deibe & Ors [2017] NSWSC 1159 Hearing dates: 22, 23 and 25 August 2017 Decision date: 31 August 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Black J Decision: The Court holds that an interlocutory injunction should be granted restraining the Sixth Defendant from disclosing or using specified information of the Plaintiff until further order and an order should be made in terms of the restraint clause in the employment contract between those parties. Parties to bring in short minutes of order to give effect to this judgment. Catchwords: EQUITY — Equitable remedies — Injunctions – Application for interlocutory injunction restraining disclosure of confidential information – where Sixth Defendant employee of Plaintiff on gardening leave and possessed substantial volume of Plaintiff's records

EQUITY — Breach of confidence — Springboard doctrine – whether Sixth Defendant should be restrained beyond contractual restraint period from working for a competitor of the Plaintiff – whether springboard doctrine applicable to injunction against breach of fiduciary duty

EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW — Restraint of trade – whether Sixth Plaintiff should be restrained from commencing employment with a competitor of the Plaintiff – construction of clause Legislation Cited: - Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 68 - Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 182–183 - Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW) Cases Cited: - APT Technology Pty Ltd v Aladesaye [2014] FCA 966 - Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill [2006] HCA 46; (2006) 227 CLR 57 - Butt v Long [1953] HCA 76; (1953) 88 CLR 436 - Cactus Imaging Pty Ltd v Peters [2006] NSWSC 717; (2006) 71 NSWLR 9 - Cadgroup Australia Pty Ltd v Snowball [2016] NSWSC 22 - Del Casale v Artedomus (Aust) Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 172 - Digital Pulse Pty Ltd v Harris [2002] NSWSC 33; (2002) 40 ACSR 487 - Faccenda Chicken Ltd v Fowler [1985] 1 All ER 724 - ICAP Australia Pty Ltd v BGC Partners (Australia) Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 130; (2005) 139 IR 293 - Industrial Rollformers Pty Ltd v Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd [2001] NSWCA 111 - Jardin v Metcash Ltd [2011] NSWCA 409; (2011) 285 ALR 677 - John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Birt [2006] NSWSC 995 - Kolback Securities Ltd v Epoch Mining NL (1987) 8 NSWLR 533 - Koops Martin v Dean Reeves [2006] NSWSC 449 - Landmark Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd v Kilborn [2006] NSWSC 1108 - McMahon v National Foods Milk Ltd [2009] VSCA 153; (2009) 25 VR 251; 259 ALR 20 - News Ltd v Australian Rugby Football League Ltd (1996) 64 FCR 410; 139 ALR 193 - Pegang Mining Co Ltd v Choong Sam [1969] 2 MLJ 52 - Portal Software International Pty Ltd v Bodsworth [2005] NSWSC 631 - Portal Software International Pty Ltd v Bodsworth [2005] NSWSC 1179 - Ross v IceTV Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 272 - Seven Network (Operations) Ltd v Warburton (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 386; (2011) 206 IR 450 - Terrapin Ltd v Builders' Supply Co (Hayes) Ltd [1967] RPC 375 - United States Surgical Corporation v Hospital Products International Pty Ltd [1983] 2 NSWLR 157 - Warman International Ltd v Dwyer [1995] HCA 18; (1995) 182 CLR 544 - Wilson Parking Australia 1992 Pty Ltd v Rush [2008] FCA 1601 - Woolworths Ltd v Olson [2004] NSWCA 372 - Wright v Gasweld Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 317 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: DXC Connect Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Stephen Deibe (First Defendant) Antonino Arena (Second Defendant) Rohan Michael Busteed (Third Defendant) Jay Manaen Henry (Fourth Defendant) David Troy Hunter (Fifth Defendant) Robert McCabe (Sixth Defendant) Joseph Arcuri (Seventh Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J J Fernon SC/S B Docker (Plaintiff) R Alkadamani (Sixth Defendant)