Jenkins Sh v Australia Council for the Arts [2024] FCA 309

Federal Court of Australia

Jenkins Sh v Australia Council for the Arts [2024] FCA 309 File number(s): VID 187 of 2021

Judgment of: HORAN J

Date of judgment: 27 March 2024

Catchwords: COSTS – whether applicant's costs of three interlocutory applications should be determined on a lump sum basis where proceeding has otherwise settled – where quantification of interlocutory costs is contested – where respondent opposes lump sum costs award and seeks taxation of applicant's costs – whether lump sum costs process more efficient in the circumstances than taxation – whether lump sum costs process would cause any unfairness or injustice between the parties – where practicable and appropriate to order that the applicant's costs of three interlocutory applications be determined on a lump sum basis – where referral made to a Judicial Registrar for lump sum assessment of costs

Legislation: Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) Costs Practice Note (GPN-COSTS)

Cases cited: ACN 074 971 109 (as trustee for the Argo Unit Trust) v National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Limited [2013] VSC 137 Beach Petroleum NL v Johnson (No 2) (1995) 57 FCR 119 Clipsal Australia Pty Ltd v Clipso Electrical Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 436 Idoport v NAB [2005] NSWSC 1273 LFDB v SM (No 2) [2017] FCAFC 207 at [16] Coshott v Prentice (No 2) [2018] FCAFC 1 Paciocco v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (No 2) (2017) 253 FCR 403 Playcorp Group of Companies Pty Ltd v Peter Bodum A/S (No 2) [2010] FCA 455 Saizeriya Co Ltd v Peregrine Management Group Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1174 Seven Network Limited v News Limited [2007] FCA 2059 Wilson v Bauer Media Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 161 WM Wrigley JR Company v Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 1186 Zreika v Royal (No 2) (2019) 141 ACSR 261