Foundas v Arambatzis (No 4) [2023] NSWSC 1648

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Foundas v Arambatzis (No 4) [2023] NSWSC 1648 Hearing dates: On the papers Date of orders: 22 December 2023 Decision date: 22 December 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Rees J Decision: Indemnity costs orders; gross sum payable. Catchwords: COSTS — Indemnity basis — Whether claimant has been put to unnecessary expense of meeting unmeritorious claims — Where respondent's claim based on forged documents — No doubt as to the falsity of the allegations advanced — respondent's conduct amounts to a relevant delinquency or exceptional circumstances warranting an indemnity costs order. COSTS — Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 98(4)(c) — Gross sum costs order — Whether appropriate in the circumstances — Where claimant of limited financial means and respondent's ability to satisfy such an order in doubt COSTS — whether evidence in support of costs claimed sufficient — Where no evidence that invoices presented have been paid — Liability for costs relevant question — Where unclear when cost agreement entered — section 174 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law 2014 (NSW) — Consequences of no disclosure should be no broader those contemplated by into section 178 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law 2014 (NSW). Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law 2014 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Barrett Property Group Ltd v Metricon Homes Pty Ltd (No 2) [2007] FCA 1823 Baychek v Baychek [2010] NSWSC 987 Bitek Pty Ltd v iConnect Pty Ltd (2012) 290 ALR 288; [2012] FCA 506 Chaina v Alvaro Homes Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 353 Colgate-Palmolive Company v Cussons Pty Ltd (1993) 46 FCR 225 Degmam Pty Ltd (in liq) v Wright (No 2) [1983] 2 NSWLR 354 Dunstan v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (No 3) [2006] FCA 916 Fang v Sun (No 2) [2014] NSWSC 1194 Foundas v Arambatzis (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1329 Foundas v Arambatzis (No 3) [2023] NSWSC 1513 Foundas v Arambatzis (No 5) [2022] NSWCA 113 Foundas v Arambatzis [2020] NSWCA 47 Hadid v Lenfest Communications Inc [2000] FCA 628 Hamod v New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 375 Harrison v Schipp (2002) 54 NSWLR 738; [2002] NSWCA 213 Huang v Wei (No 3) [2022] NSWSC 662 Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd [2007] NSWSC 23 In the matter of Pacific Springs Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 66 In the matter of Ryals Hotel Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 42 Maineri v Cirillo (2014) 47 VR 127; [2014] VSCA 227 McGettigan v Coulter (No 2) [2021] NSWSC1356 Mourik v Von Marburg [2016] VSC 601 RinRim Pty Ltd v Deutsche Bank AG (Costs) [2016] NSWSC 1510 RinRim Pty Ltd v Deutsche Bank AG [2017] NSWCA 169 Salvatore Blanda v Kemp Strang Lawyers Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 48 Shaw v Yarranova Pty Ltd [2011] VSCA 55 Sony Entertainment (Australia) Ltd v Smith (2005) 215 ALR 788; [2005] FCA 228 Southern Cross Mine Management Pty Ltd v Ensham Resources Pty Ltd (2006) 196 FLR 419; [2006] QSC 7 Sparnon v Apand Pty Ltd [1998] FCA 164 Thors v Weekes (1989) 92 ALR 131 Wentworth v Rogers (2006) 66 NSWLR 474; [2006] NSWCA 14 Category: Costs Parties: Cassini Foundas (Plaintiff) Peter Arambatzis (First Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr D Barlin with Ms T Harris-Roxas (First Defendant)