Sammut v Leroy (Trustee) [2016] FCA 1294

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Sammut v Leroy (Trustee) [2016] FCA 1294 Appeal from: Sammut v Paul Leroy as Trustee of the Bankrupt Estates of Joanne De Rome & Geoffrey De Rome & Ors (No. 2) [2016] FCCA 573

File number: NSD 530 of 2016

Judge: MARKOVIC J

Date of judgment: 3 November 2016

Catchwords: COSTS – appeal from a decision of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia ordering indemnity costs orders in favour of the first and second respondents – where the first respondent made an offer of settlement prior to trial – where the second respondent made no offer of settlement prior to trial – whether first respondent's offer to settle was a genuine offer – whether rejection of the first respondent's offer was unreasonable – whether the primary judge erred in finding a basis to award indemnity costs to the second respondent on the basis that the appellant's case was hopeless

Legislation: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 58, 139ZQ, 178 Federal Circuit Court Rules 2001 Federal Court Rules 2011

Cases cited: Ainger v Coffs Harbour City Council (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 212 Black v Lipovac (1998) 217 ALR 386 Colgate-Palmolive Company v Cussons Pty Ltd (1993) 46 FCR 225 Décor Corporation Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1991) 33 FCR 397 Dukemaster Pty Ltd v Bluehive Pty Ltd [2003] FCAFC 1 Globaltech v Pareek [2006] WASC 30 Gretton v Commonwealth of Australia [2007] NSWSC 149 Hacker v Weston [2015] FCA 790 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Ltd v International Pools Australia Ltd (1995) 36 NSWLR 242 Prosperity Advisers Pty Limited v Secure Enterprises Pty Limited t/as Strathearn Insurance Brokers [2012] NSWCA 192 Seven Network Limited v News Limited (2007) 244 ALR 374