NSWNSWDC
El Wazzi Group Pty Limited v Abdou Meate trading as Mobile Repair Hub
[2019] NSWDC 956
District Court of NSW|2019-10-31|Before: Mr P
View original sourceAt a glance
Source factsCourt
District Court of NSW
Decision date
2019-10-31
Before
Mr P
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Judgment (13 paragraphs)
[1]
A. Introduction
- El Wazzi Group Pty Ltd obtained default judgment on a claim for damages for breach of a restraint clause, and for monies had and received. The Registrar made an order for damages to be assessed.
- The assessment hearing was transferred from the Campbelltown Registry to the Parramatta Registry part way through a three-week sitting in Parramatta. On El Wazzi Group's applications, the proceedings were adjourned three times due to the proceedings being unready, on each occasion for only a few days. The final date for hearing was on 31 October 2019, the penultimate day of the sittings. El Wazzi Group resisted the matter being stood over for hearing at the next sittings in February 2020. On no occasion was there an appearance for any of the defendants.
[2]
B. Issues
- The Court is required to try and to determine the damages suffered by El Wazzi Group arising from the causes of action pleaded in the statement of claim on which default judgment was ordered. The plaintiff bears the onus of proving damages. The two causes of action listed above do not reveal the primary issues in the proceedings, but those issues can be listed as follows: 1. Were the defendants given notice of the assessment hearing. 2. To what extent is the restraint clause valid. 3. For what period did the breach of the restraint clause continue. 4. What was the evidence of loss by El Wazzi Group, including for what years, in what amounts, and in what name. 5. What is the appropriate assessment of those damages. 6. What, if any, effect does the Registrar's order for assessment of damages have on the claim for monies had and received. 7. What, if any, damages should be awarded for this cause of action.