Jones v Stephenson [2020] NSWLEC 154

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Jones v Stephenson [2020] NSWLEC 154 Hearing dates: 4 November 2020 Date of orders: 13 November 2020 Decision date: 13 November 2020 Jurisdiction: Class 2 Before: Pain J Decision: Mr Stephenson is to pay Mr and Mrs Jones' costs of the amended notice of motion dated 29 August 2020 in the amount of $342 within 60 days of this judgment. Catchwords: CONTEMPT – charge of failure to comply with court order requiring pruning of three trees at specified time of year to specified height – plea of not guilty – civil contempt of no pruning of trees at required time established – overall circumstances suggest no conviction should be recorded or penalty ordered – applicants' costs payable by respondent Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 3, 98 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3A, 10, 21A Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 (NSW) Pt 6 (r 6.3) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Pt 55 (rr 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13) Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006 (NSW) Pt 2 (s 7), Pt 2A (s 14B), s 15 Cases Cited: Blacktown City Council v Everson [2019] NSWLEC 4 Canterbury City Council v Ali Ahmed [2016] NSWLEC 160 Georges River Council v Misfud [2017] NSWLEC 113 Jones & anor v Stephenson [2017] NSWLEC 1028 Langridge v Lynch (1876) 34 LT 695 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534; [1990] HCA 59 Queanbeyan City Council v Pre-Cast Concrete Solutions Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 147 Sutherland Shire Council v Perdikaris [2020] NSWLEC 111 Waverley Council v Tovir Investments Pty Ltd & Rappaport (No 3) [2013] NSWLEC 35 Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525; [1995] HCA 3 Wood v Staunton (No 5) (1996) 86 A Crim R 183 Texts Cited: Costs Guide NSW (Thomson Reuters, Online) G E Dal Pont, Law of Costs (4th ed, 2018, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael Jones (First Applicant) Michele Jones (Second Applicant) Ross James Stephenson (Respondent) Representation: COUNSEL: Michael Jones (in person) (Applicants) Ross Stephenson (in person) (Respondent)