CCH v CDB: Anti-Suit Injunction for Breach of Arbitration Agreement

In CCH and others v CDB and others, the Singapore High Court granted anti-suit injunctions in favour of the plaintiffs, CCH, CCI, CCJ, CCK, CCL, CCM, CCN, CCO, CCP, CCQ, CCR, CCS, CCT, CCU, CCV, CCW, CCX, CCY, CCZ, CDA, CFP and CFQ, against the defendants, CDB, CDC, CDD and CDE, for breach of arbitration agreements. The court ordered the defendants to discontinue foreign and Singapore court proceedings and granted sealing and redaction orders. The plaintiffs in OS 102/2020 further sought a declaration that the Court Proceedings are breaches of the arbitration agreements. The court found that the defendants had breached the arbitration agreements by commencing court proceedings despite the existence of arbitration clauses.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Anti-suit injunction granted; declaration granted; sealing and redaction orders granted.

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Ex Tempore Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

The Singapore High Court granted an anti-suit injunction, ordering the defendants to discontinue court proceedings for breaching an arbitration agreement.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
CCHPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCIPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCJPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCKPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCLPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCMPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCNPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCOPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCPPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCQPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCRPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCSPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCTPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCUPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCVPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCWPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCXPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCYPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CCZPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CDAPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CFPPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CFQPlaintiffOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedWon
CDBDefendantOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedLost
CDCDefendantOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedLost
CDDDefendantOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedLost
CDEDefendantOtherAnti-suit injunction grantedLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Andre ManiamJudicial CommissionerYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Nanthini d/o VijayakumarTSMP Law Corporation
Thio Shen YiTSMP Law Corporation
Nish Kumar ShettyCavenagh Law LLP
Joan Peiyun Lim-CasanovaCavenagh Law LLP
Lau Hui Ming KennyProvidence Law Asia LLC
Zhuo JiaxiangProvidence Law Asia LLC
Abraham S VergisProvidence Law Asia LLC

4. Facts

  1. The defendants commenced foreign proceedings against the plaintiffs before filing the June NOA.
  2. The defendants commenced a suit in Singapore against the plaintiffs on the same day they filed the June NOA.
  3. The arbitrations, Foreign Proceedings, and Singapore Suit concern the same disputes.
  4. The plaintiffs applied for anti-suit injunctions against the defendants.
  5. The defendants argued the Court Proceedings were 'protective' in nature.
  6. The plaintiffs confirmed that the disputes in the Court Proceedings fall within the scope of the arbitration agreements.

5. Formal Citations

  1. CCH and others v CDB and others and another matter, , [2020] SGHC 143

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Defendants filed a notice of arbitration (June NOA).
Defendants filed two fresh notices of arbitration (November NOAs).
Supporting affidavit in OS 72/2020 filed.
Hearing held.
Hearing held.
Judgment delivered.

7. Legal Issues

  1. Breach of Arbitration Agreement
    • Outcome: The court held that the defendants breached the arbitration agreements by commencing court proceedings.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Commencement of court proceedings in breach of arbitration clause
  2. Anti-Suit Injunction
    • Outcome: The court granted an anti-suit injunction, ordering the defendants to discontinue the court proceedings.
    • Category: Procedural

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Anti-suit injunction
  2. Order to discontinue court proceedings
  3. Declaration that Court Proceedings are breaches of the arbitration agreements
  4. Sealing orders
  5. Redaction orders

9. Cause of Actions

  • Breach of Contract

10. Practice Areas

  • Arbitration
  • Commercial Litigation

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Sun Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd v Hilton International Manage (Maldives) Pvt LtdCourt of AppealYes[2019] 1 SLR 732SingaporeCited for the principles governing the issue of anti-suit injunctions.
Belbana N V v APL Co Pte Ltd and anotherSingapore High CourtNo[2014] SGHCR 17SingaporeCited regarding the appropriateness of a stay versus discontinuance of proceedings.
Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha v Chubb Seguros Brasil SA (formerly Ace Seguradora SA)EWHCNo[2020] EWHC 1223England and WalesCited regarding the need for discontinuance to give practical effect to an undertaking or injunction.
Mobile Telecommunications Company Ltd v HRH Prince Hussam Bin Saudi Bin Abdulaziz Al SaudEWHCYes[2018] EWHC 1469England and WalesCited regarding the appropriateness of ordering discontinuance when injunctive relief is granted.
Koh Kay Yew v Inno-Pacific Holdings LtdUnknownYes[1997] 2 SLR(R) 148SingaporeCited for the principles governing the issue of anti-suit injunctions.
BBW v BBX and othersUnknownYes[2016] 5 SLR 755SingaporeCited for the principles regarding sealing and redaction orders.
Tjong Very Sumito and others v Antig Investments Pte LtdCourt of AppealYes[2009] 4 SLR(R) 732SingaporeCited regarding the award of indemnity costs in anti-suit injunction cases.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
International Arbitration Act (Cap 143A, 2002 Rev Ed)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Arbitration agreement
  • Anti-suit injunction
  • Breach of contract
  • Discontinuance
  • Protective proceedings
  • Arbitrability

15.2 Keywords

  • Arbitration
  • Anti-suit injunction
  • Breach of contract
  • Singapore High Court

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Arbitration95
Anti-suit injunction90
International Arbitration70
Breach of Contract60
Contract Law40
Civil Procedure30
Costs20

16. Subjects

  • Arbitration
  • Contract Law
  • Civil Procedure