Eurofins Mechem Pte Ltd v Quek Sze Wei & Anor

Case Significance

Eurofins Mechem Pte Ltd v Quek Sze Wei and another [2024] SGHC 225 was decided by Kwek Mean Luck J in the General Division of the High Court, heard on 29 August 2024 and decided on 2 September 2024, in Originating Claim No 589 of 2023 (Registrar's Appeal No 136 of 2024). The matter concerned summary judgment and an appellant seeking to resile from a factual concession. In SUM 1103 of 2024, the Assistant Registrar granted the claimant, Eurofins Mechem Pte Ltd, partial summary judgment against the first defendant, Mr Quek Sze Wei, for damages in the sum of $131,535, a decision mainly premised on factual admissions made by Mr Quek.

In RA 136 of 2024, Mr Quek appealed against the Assistant Registrar's decision, raising arguments including that there were triable issues and that his factual admissions had been made in the context of an injunction hearing for the same action and so could not be relied upon in a summary judgment hearing. Kwek Mean Luck J dismissed the appeal and affirmed the partial summary judgment. According to the judgment, Mr Quek was the General Manager of Eurofins from around 2021 to 5 September 2023, and Eurofins' case was that while serving as General Manager and director he acquired a competitor, Labtechnic Testing Services Pte Ltd, the second defendant. Eurofins was represented by counsel from Audent Chambers LLC including Jordan Tan, Lim Jun Heng and Victor Leong, while the defendants were represented by Sean La'Brooy of Vita Law LLC.