Croc’s Franchising Pty Ltd v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd (No 3) [2023] NSWCA 316

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Croc's Franchising Pty Ltd v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd (No 3) [2023] NSWCA 316 Hearing dates: On the papers Date of orders: 15 December 2023 Decision date: 15 December 2023 Before: Payne JA; Stern JA; Basten AJA Decision: (1) First respondent to pay 70% of the appellants' costs of the appeal filed 19 August 2021; (2) No order for costs of the proceedings on the Amended Commercial List Statement filed 19 August 2021; (3) The amount of $184,190.14 paid into court by the appellants as a condition of the stay judgment, together with any interest which has accrued, be released to, or otherwise at the direction of, the first respondent; (4) The amount of $110,000 paid into court by the appellants as security for the first respondent's costs, together with any interest which has accrued, be released to, or otherwise at the direction of, the appellants. Catchwords: COSTS – party/party – costs of appeal and primary claim – amendment to original costs order – where mixed success on appeal but appellants prevailed on principal issue – where cross-claim remitted for further hearing – where judgment below $500,000 ­­– whether UCPR r 42.34 applies PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – funds paid into court – whether and to whom funds should be released Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 98 Conveyancing (General) Regulation 2018 (NSW), Sch 5 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 36.16, 36.17, 42.34 Cases Cited: Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd v Croc's Franchising Pty Ltd (No 3) (Supreme Court of New South Wales, unreported, 8 March 2023) Bostik Australia Pty Ltd v Liddiard (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 304 Croc's Franchising Pty Ltd v Alamdo Holdings Pty Limited [2023] NSWCA 85 Croc's Franchising Pty Ltd v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 256 Croc's Franchising Pty Ltd v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd (No 2) [2023] NSWCA 286 Doppstadt Australia Pty Ltd v Lovick & Sons Developments Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 219 Fexuto Pty Ltd v Bosnjak Holdings Pty Ltd (No 3) (1998) 30 ACSR 20 James v Surf Road Nominees Pty Ltd (No 2) [2005] NSWCA 296 Mahaffey v Mahaffey (2018) 97 NSWLR 119; [2018] NSWCA 42 Category: Costs Parties: Croc's Franchising Pty Ltd (first appellant) Brett Christopher Aldons (second appellant) Lawrence John Cusdin (third appellant) Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd (first respondent) State of New South Wales (second respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Ashhurst SC; D Meyerowitz-Katz (appellants) JAC Potts SC; AR Langshaw (first respondent) Submitting appearance (second respondent)