Nixon v Philip Morris (Australia) Ltd [1999] FCA 1429

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Nixon v Philip Morris (Australia) Ltd [1999] FCA 1429

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Costs of applications for summary dismissal of proceeding –Numerous issues – Mixed fortunes of parties – Apportionment of costs.

MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER NIXON, ALEX TALAY, ROBERT MILNE, VICTOR BRUCE WILLIAMS, SANDRA SHEPARD and GREGORY DURKIN (for themselves and as representing the persons referred to in paragraph 1 of the Statement of Claim)

v

PHILIP MORRIS (AUSTRALIA) LTD and PHILIP MORRIS LTD, W D & H O WILLS HOLDINGS LTD and W D & H O WILLS (AUSTRALIA) LTD and ROTHMANS HOLDINGS LTD and ROTHMANS OF PALL MALL (AUSTRALIA) LTD

N326 of 1999

WILCOX J SYDNEY 20 OCTOBER 1999

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY N326 of 1999

BETWEEN: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER NIXON, ALEX TALAY, ROBERT MILNE, VICTOR BRUCE WILLIAMS, SANDRA SHEPHARD and GREGORY DURKIN (for themselves and as representing the persons referred to in paragraph 1 of the Statement of Claim)

Applicants

AND: PHILIP MORRIS (AUSTRALIA) LTD and PHILIP MORRIS LTD

First Respondent

W D & H O WILLS HOLDINGS LTD and W D & H O WILLS (AUSTRALIA) LTD

Second Respondent

And

ROTHMANS HOLDINGS LTD and ROTHMANS OF PALL MALL (AUSTRALIA) LTD

Third Respondent

JUDGE: WILCOX J

DATE OF ORDER: 20 OCTOBER 1999

WHERE MADE: SYDNEY

THE COURT ORDERS THAT: 1. The respondents, Philip Morris (Australia) Ltd, Philip Morris Ltd, W D & H O Wills Holdings Ltd, W D & H O Wills (Australia) Ltd, Rothmans Holdings Ltd and Rothmans of Pall Mall (Australia) Ltd, pay to the applicants, Michael Christopher Nixon, Alex Taley, Robert Milne, Victor Bruce Williams, Sandra Shephard and Gregory Durkin, one half of the costs incurred by the applicants in connection with the Notices of Motion filed by the respondents on 2 July 1999.