Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos v Yesilhat; Yesilhat v Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos (No. 6) [2023] NSWSC 415

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos v Yesilhat; Yesilhat v Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos (No. 6) [2023] NSWSC 415 Hearing dates: 5 October, 6 December 2022 and thereafter in chambers. Date of orders: 28 April 2023 Decision date: 02 May 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Slattery J Decision: Order the second defendant to pay the plaintiff the sum of $16,837.48 as a specified gross sum instead of assessed costs. Order the plaintiff to pay the second defendant the sum of $40,000 as a specified gross sum instead of assessed costs. Judgment for the second defendant in the sum of $23,162.52. Catchwords: COSTS – costs assessment – specified gross sum costs order – Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 98(4)(c) – protracted legal proceedings between the plaintiff estate and three defendants – the proceedings now continue only as between the plaintiff and the second defendant – the first defendant is bankrupt and the third defendant, a company, is in liquidation – general costs orders have been made in the second defendant's favour against the plaintiff estate – particular costs orders have been made in favour of the plaintiff estate against the second defendant – whether the evidence advanced on behalf of the second defendant is sufficient to allow s 98(4)(c) orders to be made – what specified gross sum orders should be made instead of assessed costs in favour of each of the plaintiff and the second defendant – whether any gross sums fixed should be set-off against one another. Legislation Cited: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) Civil Procedure Act 2005, ss 3(1), 98(4)(c) Legal Profession Uniform Law 2015, reg 72 Cases Cited: Bechara (t/as Bechara and Company) v Bates [2016] NSWCA 294 Burrows v Macpherson & Kelley Lawyers (Sydney) Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 148 Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos v Yesilhat, Yesilhat v Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos [2017] NSWSC 666 Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos v Yesilhat; Yesilhat v Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos (No. 2) [2019] NSWSC 584 Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos v Yesilhat; Yesilhat v Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos (No. 3) [2019] NSWSC 1752 Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos v Yesilhat; Yesilhat v Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos (No. 4) [2020] NSWSC 1044 Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos v Yesilhat; Yesilhat v Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos (No. 5) [2021] NSWSC 1586 Ellingsen & Anor v Det Skandinaviske Compani & Ors [1919] 2 KB 567 Harrison v Schipp (2002) 54 NSWLR 738 King Network Group Pty Ltd v Club of the Clubs Pty Limited (No. 2) [2009] NSWCA 204 Korner v H. Korner & Co. Ltd [1951] Ch 10 Riva NSW Pty Limited v Mark A Fraser; Fraser v Riva (NSW) (No. 4) [2022] NSWSC 1624 Yesilhat v Calokerinos [2021] NSWCA 110 Category: Consequential orders Parties: 2013/358168 Plaintiff: Cleopatra Sclavos Calokerinos, as executor of the estate of the late George Sclavos First Defendant: Okan Yesilhat Second Defendant: Gokan Yesilhat Third Defendant: Australia's Best Tyres & Auto Pty Ltd ACN 151 629 131