Specsavers Pty Ltd v The Optical Superstore Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 183

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Specsavers Pty Ltd v The Optical Superstore Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 183 Citation: Specsavers Pty Ltd v The Optical Superstore Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 183

Appeal from: Specsavers Pty Ltd v The Optical Superstore Pty Ltd (No 4) [2012] FCA 652

Parties: SPECSAVERS PTY LTD (ACN 097 147 932) v THE OPTICAL SUPERSTORE PTY LTD (ACN 095 737 894), OPTOM ADMIN PTY LTD (ACN 101 150 449), WILLIAM CHIN, NORTHERN COAST OPTICAL PTY LTD (ACN 006 873 758), TOWNSVILLE OPTICAL PTY LTD (ACN 097 398 019), BUNDABERG OPTICAL PTY LTD (ACN 131 317 676), UNIQUE EYEWEAR PTY LTD (ACN 006 251 305) and IPSWICH OPTICAL PTY LTD (ACN 082 352 350)

File number: NSD 957 of 2012

Judges: FOSTER, BARKER and GRIFFITHS JJ

Date of judgment: 14 December 2012

Catchwords: COSTS – appeal from decision of primary judge rejecting a claim for indemnity costs – failure of first respondent to accept offer of compromise – whether offer of compromise was ambiguous – whether primary judged erred in having regard to earlier offers of compromise – whether primary judge erred in failing to give effect to Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) R 25.14 – whether primary judge erred in failing to give effect to Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 37M, s 37N

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 37M, s 37M(1), s 37M(2)(d), s 37M(2)(e), s 37M(3), s 37M(4), s 37N, s 37N(1), s 37N(2), s 37N(4), s 43, s 43(1) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 52(1), s 53(e) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) R 1.35, R 1.40, R 25.12, R 25.14(1), R 40.08 Federal Court Rules 1979 (Cth) O 62 r 36A(1)