Muscat v Qin (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 391

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Muscat v Qin (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 391 Hearing dates: On the papers, submissions dated 29 February 2024, 28 March 2024 and 3 April 2024 Decision date: 12 April 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: McGrath J (in chambers) Decision: Order that the plaintiff pay the defendants' costs on an indemnity basis Catchwords: COSTS — indemnity basis — where successful party seeks indemnity costs — where unsuccessful party seeks capped costs order pursuant to s 98(4)(d) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) — where unsuccessful party had ulterior motive and no chance of success — where no principled or evidential basis for capped costs — HELD — indemnity costs payable and no cap imposed Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Baychek v Baychek [2010] NSWSC 987 Bignell Pty Ltd v Edenden Pty Ltd t/as Everdry Waterproofing and Coatings [2004] NSWSC 288 Calderbank v Calderbank [1975] 3 All ER 333; [1975] 3 WLR 586 Cappello v HomeBuilding Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 109 Colgate Palmolive Co & Anor v Cussons Pty Ltd (1993) 46 FCR 225; (1993) 118 ALR 248 Fountain Selected Meats (Sales) Pty Ltd v International Produce Merchants Pty Ltd (1988) 81 ALR 397 Friend v Brien (No 2) [2014] NSWSC 614 Gideon Rathner as trustee for Garland Lot 4 Unit Trust v Bartlett (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1166 In the matter of North Coast Transit Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 268 Jvancich v Kennedy (No 2) [2004] NSWCA 397 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Green [2004] NSWCA 341 Liverpool City Council v Estephan Estephan (Executor and Administrator of the Estate of the late Jocelyn Estephan & Ors) [2009] NSWCA 161 Mautray Pty Ltd v Pillemer Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1315 McGrath v Mestousis (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 32 Mega-top Cargo Pty Ltd v Moneytech Services Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 3 Mendonca v Tonna (No 3) [2020] NSWCA 332 Muscat v Qin [2024] NSWSC 113 Nudd v Mannix [2009] NSWCA 327 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72; [1998] HCA 11 Ragata Developments Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1993) 217 ALR 175; [1993] FCA 115 Re Sherborne Estate (No 2) [2005] NSWSC 1003 Texts Cited: AV Ritchie, Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure NSW (LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Costs Parties: Andrew Muscat (Plaintiff) Yuxin Qin (First Defendant) TA Tools Pty Ltd (ACN 614 710 726) (Second Defendant) Representation: Determined on the papers File Number(s): 2023/00036815 Publication restriction: Nil