Babscay Pty Ltd v Pitcher Partners (No 3) [2021] FCA 156

Federal Court of Australia

Babscay Pty Ltd v Pitcher Partners (No 3) [2021] FCA 156 File number: VID 1188 of 2017

Judgment of: ANASTASSIOU J

Date of judgment: 3 March 2021

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – costs application in relation to discontinuance of representative group proceeding – whether Applicant liable to pay costs of Respondent and Cross-Respondents consequent upon discontinuance – default position in respect of costs under r 26.12(7) of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) – whether reason to displace default position under r 26.12(7) of the Rules PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – indemnity costs – whether unusual or special feature to justify indemnity costs – whether conduct of litigation consistent with overarching purpose of Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) – no basis for award of indemnity costs – quantification to be referred to a Registrar of the Court for mediation

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 33V, 37M, 37N, 43 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth), rr 15.11, 26.12(7)

Cases cited: Aristotite v Gladstone Park Shipping Centre Pty Ltd [1984] FCA 175; 2 FCR 334 Armstrong v Australian Community Pharmacy Authority [2012] FCA 577 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v The Maritime Union of Australia [2001] FCA 1549; 114 FCR 472 Babscay Pty Ltd v Pitcher Partners [2020] FCA 1610 Babscay Pty Ltd v Pitcher Partners (a firm) [2019] FCA 480 Colgate-Palmolive Co v Cussons Pty Ltd [1993] FCA 801; 46 FCR 225 El-Debel v Secretary, Department of Immigration and Border Protection [2014] FCA 474; 141 ALD 611 Melbourne City Investments Pty Ltd v Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (No 2) [2017] FCAFC 116 Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v State of Western Australia [2013] FCA 946 Ragata Developments Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation [1993] FCA 115; 217 ALR 175