Wright v Apthorpe [2020] NSWCA 300

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Wright v Apthorpe [2020] NSWCA 300 Hearing dates: 5 May 2020 Date of orders: 20 November 2020 Decision date: 20 November 2020 Before: Bell P at [1]; McCallum JA at [4]; Simpson AJA at [5]. Decision: 1. Leave granted to appeal with respect to proposed ground 1. 2. Appeal dismissed. 3. Leave to appeal otherwise refused. 4. The applicant to file an appropriate notice of appeal by 4 December 2020. 5. The applicant to pay the respondents' costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: COSTS — Party/Party — General rule that costs follow the event — Discretion – No presumption or default rule as to the basis of the award of costs STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – r 42.2 of Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) – whether s 98(1) of Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) confines the judicial discretion in awarding costs – whether a judge must take as a starting point that costs are to be assessed on the ordinary basis and justify any departure from that position Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 56, 98 District Court Act 1973 (NSW) s 127(2)(b) Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s 79 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 69(2) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1867 (Qld) s 58 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) ss 75A Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) s 151Z Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 20.26, 20.32, 20.26. 42.1, 42.2, 42.18 Cases Cited: Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170; [1981] HCA 39 Apthorpe v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited & Ors [2019] NSWDC 135 Australian Conservation Foundation v Forestry Commission (1988) 81 ALR 166 Brighten v Traino (No 2) [2019] NSWCA 203 Bullock v London General Omnibus Co [1907] 1 KB 264 Calderbank v Calderbank [1975] 3 All ER 333 Coombes v Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 70 Evans v Braddock (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 518 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Knight v F.P. Special Assets Ltd (1992) 174 CLR 178; [1992] HCA 28 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 134; [1990] HCA 59 Mahenthirarasa v State Rail Authority of NSW (No 2) (2008) 72 NSWLR 73; [2008] NSWCA 201 Milne v Attorney General for the State of Tasmania (1956) 95 CLR; [1956] HCA 48 Norbis v Norbis (1986) 161 CLR 513; [1986] HCA 17 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72; [1998] HCA 11 Re Will of Gilbert (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318 Sanderson v Blyth Theatre Co [1903] 2 KB 533 Sze Tu v Lowe (No 2) [2015] NSWCA 91 The Age Company Ltd v Liu [2013] NSWCA 26 Walsh v Walsh (No 2) [2013] NSWSC 1281 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Christopher Wright (Applicant) Kenneth Apthorpe (First Respondent) H.T.E. (Aust) Pty Limited (Second Respondent) QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Deakin QC/M Nesbeth (Applicant) G R Petty SC (First Respondent) D A Lloyd (Second Respondent) S E McCarthy/R J Pietriche (Third Respondent)