Access Training Group Ltd v Jane [2024] NSWCA 204

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Access Training Group Ltd v Jane [2024] NSWCA 204 Hearing dates: 28 June 2024 Date of orders: 15 August 2024 Decision date: 15 August 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; Payne JA at [201]; Basten AJA at [202] Decision: 1. Dismiss the appeal with costs. 2. Grant leave to the cross-appellants to cross-appeal against the costs orders made in the respective proceedings. 3. Allow the cross-appeal and set aside order (3) made in 2019/374869 and order (5) in 2020/219022 and in lieu thereof order: (a) in proceeding 2019/374869, leaving aside any previous interlocutory costs orders, that the plaintiff pay 75% of the costs of the defendants of the proceedings; and (b) in proceeding 2020/219022, leaving aside any previous interlocutory costs orders, that the defendant pay 75% of the costs of the plaintiff of the proceedings. 4. Order the cross-respondents to pay the cross-appellants' costs of the cross-appeal. 5. Dismiss the cross-respondents' motion as to incompetency of the cross-appeal with no order as to costs. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – Interpretation – Whether payments totalling $1.3 million were made by respondent to appellant as a loan – Whether evidence established common assumption between parties as to nature of sum – Whether private uncommunicated views inconsistent with asserted characterisation – Appeal dismissed COSTS – Appeal from costs order of primary judge – Where primary judge ordered each party to bear own costs on the basis that the result was "mixed" – Where final result in proceedings was judgment in favour of AGT – Identification of relevant "event" for purposes of r 42.1 of Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) where result mixed – Apportionment of costs on an impressionistic basis – Proportionate reduction appropriate – Cross-appeal allowed APPEALS – Where cross-appeal initially brought with respect to grounds other than strictly costs – Where substantive grounds subsequently fall away – Whether leave to appeal necessary Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1 Cases Cited: Access Training Group Limited v James Michael Jane; Access Group Training Limited v Venture Capital Fund Australia Limited [2023] NSWSC 1416 Access Training Group Limited v James Michael Jane; Access Group Training Limited v Venture Capital Fund Australia Limited (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1632 Australian Conservation Foundation v Forestry Commission (1988) 81 ALR 166, 169; [1988] FCA 225 Bostik Australia Pty Ltd v Liddiard (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 304 Bowen Investments Pty Ltd v Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (No 2) [2008] FCAFC 107 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 (HL) Corbett Court Pty Ltd v Quasar Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 1423 Cretazzo v Lombardi (1975) 13 SASR 4 Croc's Franchising Pty Ltd v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd (No 3) [2023] NSWCA 316 Elite Protective Personnel Pty Ltd v Salmon (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 373 Fexuto Pty Ltd v Bosnjak Holdings Pty Ltd (No 3) (1998) 30 ACSR 20 Firebird Global Master Fund II Ltd v Republic of Nauru (No 2) (2015) 90 ALJR 270; [2015] HCA 53 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Galati v Deans (No 2) [2023] NSWCA 252 Ghosh v NineMSN Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 180 Golding v Vella (No 2) [2001] NSWSC 731 Hooker v Grilling (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 214 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Housman v Camuglia (2021) 104 NSWLR 615; [2021] NSWCA 106 Howard Smith & Co Ltd v Varawa (1907) 5 CLR 68; [1907] HCA 38 Hughes v Western Australian Cricket Assn (1986) ATPR 40-748 In the matter of Fewin Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1093 James v Surf Road Nominees (No 2) [2005] NSWCA 296 Jaycar v Lombardo [2011] NSWCA 284 Johnston v Brightstars Holding Company Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 150 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534; [1990] HCA 59 Lavender View Regency Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council (No 2) [1999] NSWSC 775 Leallee v Commissioner of the NSW Department of Corrective Services [2009] NSWSC 518 Lenning v Alexander Proudfoot Co World Headquarters [1991] NSWCA 172 Oertel v Crocker (1947) 75 CLR 261; [1947] HCA 40. Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72; [1998] HCA 11 Owners Strata Plan No 64970 v Austruc Constructions Ltd (No 5) [2010] NSWSC 568 Petrotimor Companhia de Petroleos SARL v Commonwealth of Australia (2003) 128 FCR 507; [2003] FCAFC 83 Post Office Agents Association Ltd v Australian Postal Commission (1988) 84 ALR 563, 565 Sahab Holdings Pty Ltd v Registrar-General (No 3) [2010] NSWSC 403 Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Smith (2017) 95 NSWLR 597; [2017] NSWCA 206 Short v Crawley (No 40) [2008] NSWSC 1302 Uniline Australia Ltd (ACN 010 752 057) v S Briggs Pty Ltd (ACN 007 415 518) (No 2) (2009) 232 FCR 136; [2009] FCA 920 Waters v P C Henderson (Aust) Pty Limited (Court of Appeal (NSW), Kirby P, Mahoney and Priestly JJA, 6 July 1994, unreported) Windsurfing International Incorporated v Petit (1987) AIPC 90-441 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Access Training Group Ltd (First Appellant) Venture Capital Fund Australia Ltd (Second Appellant) James Michael Jane (First Respondent) Judith Anne Jane (Second Respondent) John Charles Goard (Third Respondent) Suellen Fay Goard (Fourth Respondent) Access Group Training Pty Ltd (Fifth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Pritchard SC with P Doyle Gray (Appellants) MS White SC with T Crispin (Respondents)