Kismet International Pty Ltd v Guano Fertilizer Sales Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] FCA 705

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Kismet International Pty Ltd v Guano Fertilizer Sales Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] FCA 705 Citation: Kismet International Pty Ltd v Guano Fertilizer Sales Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] FCA 705

Parties: KISMET INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD (ABN 31 078 696 367) and GUANO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (ABN 61 074 053 026) v GUANO FERTILIZER SALES PTY LTD (ACN 141 437 194), GRAIN HAUL PTY LTD (ABN 78 066 522 165), THE TRUSTEE FOR THE MCMAHON FAMILY TRUST (ABN 57 979 665 867) and JAMES ALFRED MCMAHON

File number: VID 921 of 2011

Judge: MURPHY J

Date of judgment: 19 July 2013

Catchwords: COSTS – whether costs should be reduced pursuant to r 40.08 because of the amount of damages award – offer of compromise for claim and cross-claim together – whether an offer of compromise relating to both claim and cross-claim allowed for independent acceptance in relation to the cross claim – whether indemnity costs are automatic if the conditions of r 25.14 are satisfied – rebuttable presumption if conditions of r 25.14 are satisfied – exercise of discretion as to indemnity costs

Legislation: Federal Court Rules 2011 – rr 1.61, 25.14, 40.08

Cases cited: Futuretronics.com.au Pty Ltd v Graphix Labels Pty Ltd [2009] FCAFC 40 Kooee Communications Pty Ltd v Primus Telecommunications Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCAFC 141 Magenta Nominees Pty Ltd v Richard Ellis (Western Australia) Pty Ltd [1994] FCA 302 Richardson v Oracle Corporation Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] FCA 359 Ruddock v Vadarlis (No 2) (2001) 115 FCR 229 Specsavers Pty Ltd v Optical Superstore Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 183