Surgibit IP Holdings Pty Limited v Ellis (No 2) [2017] NSWSC 1379

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Surgibit IP Holdings Pty Limited v Ellis (No 2) [2017] NSWSC 1379 Hearing dates: 28 September 2017 Date of orders: 11 October 2017 Decision date: 11 October 2017 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson J Decision: See direction in paragraph [40] Catchwords: CIVIL – enforceability of foreign judgment –– whether treble damages and attorney fees ordered by US Court are "penal"– whether Court ought not register a judgment that is penal – HELD – no penal element established – no impediment to registration or enforcement in this jurisdiction – distinction between breach of court rules and breach of court orders Legislation Cited: Foreign Judgments Act 1991 (Cth), s 6 35 United States Code § 284, 285 Cases Cited: Attorney-General (United Kingdom) v Heinemann Publishers Australia Pty Ltd (1988) 165 CLR 30; [1988] HCA 25 Benefit Strategies Group v Prider (2005) 91 SASR 544 Hung Fung Enterprises Holdings Ltd v The Agricultural Bank of China [2012] HKCA 251 Huntington v Attrill [1893] AC 150 Octane Fitness, LLC v. ICON Health & Fitness, Inc., U.S. 134 S.Ct.1749 (2014) Old North State Brewing Co. v Newlands Services Inc. (British Columbia Court of Appeal) (1998) 113 B.C.A.C. 186 SA Consortium General Textiles v Sun & Sand Agencies [1978] QB 279 (CA) Schnabel v Lui [2002] NSWSC 15 Surgibit IP Holdings Pty Limited v Ellis [2016] NSWSC 359 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Surgibit IP Holdings Pty Limited (ACN 110 194 628) (First Plaintiff) Orthopedic Innovation Pty Ltd (ACN 101 791 084) (Second Plaintiff) Liam Patrick Ellis (First Defendant) Cingular Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Hogan-Doran (Plaintiffs) P Cutler and J Tat (First Defendant)