Category Archives: Costs

Dubow v Fitness First Australia Pty Ltd [2010] FMCA 56

Dubow v Fitness First Australia Pty Ltd [2010] FMCA 56 (8 February 2010).

Lawyers 1300 00 2088

Sydney Ferries Corporation v Australian Maritime Officers Union [2008] FCAC 193

Sydney Ferries Corporation v Australian Maritime Officers Union [2008] FCAFC 193 (18 December 2008)

Lawyers

Sydney, Australia

1300 00 2088

Sydney Ferries Corporation v Australian Maritime Officers Union (No 3) [2008] FCA 960

Sydney Ferries Corporation v Australian Maritime Officers Union (No 3) [2008] FCA 960 (25 June 2008)

Lawyers 1300 00 2088

Dubow v Fitness First Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1390

Dubow v Fitness First Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1390 (5 December 2007)

Lawyers

Sydney, Australia

1300 00 2088

Dubow v Fitness First & Anor (No.2) [2006] FMCA 502

Dubow v Fitness First & Anor (No.2) [2006] FMCA 502 (6 April 2006)

Lawyers 1300 00 2088

Salvatore Blanda v Kemp Strang Lawyers Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 48

Salvatore Blanda v Kemp Strang Lawyers Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 48 (10 February 2006).

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/nsw/NSWSC/2006/48.html

Lawyers 1300 00 2088

Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419

ON THIS DAY in 2002, the NSW Court of Appeal delivered Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419 (24 December 2002).

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/nsw/NSWCA/2002/419.html

Lawyers

Sydney, Australia

1300 00 2088

Idoport Pty Limited and Anor v National Australia Bank Limited [2001] NSWSC 744

ON 13 SEPTEMBER 2001, the Supreme Court of NSW delivered Idoport Pty Limited and Anor v National Australia Bank Limited and 8 Ors; Idoport Pty Limited and Market Holdings Pty Limited v Donald Robert Argus; Idoport Pty Limited “JMG” v National Australia Bank Limited [35] [2001] NSWSC 744 (13 September 2001).

In a class action proceedings against the National Australia Bank, the Supreme Court of NSW made an order for security for costs against the plaintiff.

The principles relevant to ordering the provision for security for costs against a plaintiff include:

  • The court has the power to order security for costs against plaintiffs who are natural persons.
  • The court’s discretion in making the order is broad.
  • The purpose is to protect the court’s ability to properly exercise its jurisdiction to order costs to the successful party.
  • The court needs to seek a balance between protecting the defendant and avoiding injustice to an impecunious plaintiff by shutting him or her out of the proceedings or otherwise prejudicing him or her in the proceedings.
  • The inability of the plaintiff to satisfy a costs order weights heavily in the exercise of the court’s discretion.
  • A court must be satisfied that a plaintiff is unable (rather than unwilling) to provide security for costs before it can regard the proceedings to be stultified by the order.
  • The defendant may seek security for the costs incurred before proceedings commences, provided that they were incurred “in reasonable anticipation of litigation.”
  • Costs are to be calculated by reference to a clear methodology rather than mathematical certainty.
  • Courts are to factor into their estimate a discount for the prospect that the proceedings will not proceed to a full hearing and settle at mediation.

In these particular proceedings, the provision for security for costs was ordered in the sum of $6,212,962.

Lawyers 1300 00 2088

Clyde Contractors P/L v Northern Beaches Developments P/L [2001] QCA 314

Clyde Contractors P/L v Northern Beaches Developments P/L [2001] QCA 314 (7 August 2001)

Lawyers 1300 00 2088

White Industries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Flower & Hart (a firm) [1998] FCA 806

ON 14 JULY 1998, the Federal Court of Australia delivered White Industries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Flower & Hart (a firm) [1998] FCA 806 (14 July 1998).

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FCA/1998/806.html

Flower & Hart (a firm of lawyers) was ordered to pay the legal costs of White Industries (Qld) Pty Ltd who had been sued by Flower & Hart’s client, Caboolture Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd (in liquidation).

Proceedings alleging misleading and deceptive conduct, fraud and negligence had been brought by Caboolture Park for the ulterior purpose of delaying payment of monies due under a building contract. The solicitor for Caboolture Park, Michael Meadows, held the view that the proceedings did not have any prospects or any substantial prospects of success but nevertheless advised his client to proceed in order to secure a bargaining position against White Industries.

Goldberg held that: