Balout v Bella Ikea Cronulla Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 1173

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Balout v Bella Ikea Cronulla Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 1173 Hearing dates: On the papers; last submissions 27 August 2024 Date of orders: 20 September 2024 Decision date: 20 September 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Expedition List Before: Rees J Decision: Costs orders made. Catchwords: COSTS – proceedings overtaken by subsequent events – no final determination on merits – rule 42.20, Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) – complex and protracted proceedings partly resolved interlocutory orders and defendant terminating contracts for sale of land – remaining causes of action premised on contracts proceeding to completion – whether grounds for Court to "order otherwise" – principles at [48]-[54] – plaintiffs have effectively obtained the relief sought – remaining issues became otiose as proceedings developed and by defendant's actions – plaintiff acted reasonably – defendant acted unreasonably for portion of litigation. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 Uniform Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 12.1, 42.19, 42.20 Cases Cited: Australian Receivables Ltd v Tekitu Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 1425 Australiawide Airlines Ltd v Aspirion Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 365 Balout v Bella Ikea Cronulla Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 775 Bitannia Pty Ltd v Parkline Constructions Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 32 Cummins v Australian Jockey Club Ltd [2009] NSWSC 254 Donald Campbell & Co Ltd v Pollak [1927] AC 732 Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs Pty Ltd v Stack [2003] NSWCA 302 Foukkare v Angreb Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 335 Hunter Development Corporation v Save Our Rail NSW Incorporated (No 2) [2016] NSWCA 375 Ibrahim v PERI Australia Pty Limited [2013] NSWCA 328 In the matter of Jimmy's Recipe Pty Limited (No 4) [2020] NSWSC 1244 In the matter of Ming Tian Real Property Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 386 Kiama Council v Grant [2006] NSWLEC 96 Nichols v NFS Agribusiness Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 84 One.Tel Ltd v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (2000) 101 FCR 548 Re Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (Cth); Ex Parte Lai Qin (1997) 186 CLR 622; [1997] HCA 6 Roache v News Group Newspapers [1992] TLR 551 Sydney Markets Credit Services Co-operative Ltd v Taylor (No 3) [2015] NSWSC 1236 The Metropolitan Asylum District Managers v Hill (1880) 5 AC 582 Transtar Linehaul Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (CSR [2021] NSWSC 159 Category: Costs Parties: Alan Balout (First Plaintiff) Wisefox Holdings Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff) Bella Ikea Cronulla Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Bella & SEB Holdings (Second Defendant) Joseph Touma (Third Defendant) 11 Kingston Avenue Pty Ltd (Fifth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P Afshar (First and Second Plaintiffs) C P O'Neill / A Rizk (First to Third Defendants) A Byrne (Fifth Defendant) Solicitors: Mistry Fallahi (Plaintiffs) Hicksons Lawyers (First to Third Defendants) Thurlow Fisher (Fifth Defendant) File Number(s): 2023/156633