Clough v Breen (No. 6) [2024] NSWSC 1634

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Clough v Breen (No. 6) [2024] NSWSC 1634 Hearing dates: 3 June, 18 July, 20 August, 26 September, and 11 November 2024. Date of orders: 18 December 2024 Decision date: 18 December 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Real Property List Before: Slattery J Decision: Interim orders varied and continued to form final relief between the parties. Specified gross sum costs order made. Catchwords: JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS – Amending, varying, and setting aside – interlocutory regime of orders imposed on parties engaged in a long-running dispute in relation to easements – final judgment given – whether the interlocutory regime of orders should be continued on a permanent basis and if so, whether those orders should be varied. COSTS – specified gross sum costs order – Civil Procedure Act 2005 s 98(4)(c) – long-running dispute between two neighbours involving multiple proceedings – final judgment given – discretionary factors relevant to making a specified gross sum costs order – need to accelerate the disengagement of the parties from their present disputes and to avoid further aggravating contests between them including in relation to costs assessment – whether a specified gross sum order should be made instead of a costs assessment. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56(1), 57(1)(d), 60, and 98(4)(c) Cases Cited: Aquaqueen International Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 500 Australasian Performing Rights Assoc Ltd v Marlin [1999] FCA 1006 Beach Petroleum NL v Johnson (No. 2) (1995) 57 FCR 119 Breen v Clough [2017] NSWSC 1681 Capello v HomeBuilding Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 268 Clough v Breen [2020] NSWSC 653 Clough v Breen & Anor [2022] NSWSC 1026 Clough v Breen (No. 4) [2023] NSWSC 1155 Clough v Breen (No.5) [2024] NSWSC 337 Hadid v Lenfest Communications Inc [2000] FCA 628 Halliday v SACS Group Pty Ltd [1993] HCA 13; 67 ALJR 678 Harrison v Schipp (2002) 54 NSWLR 738; [2002] NSWCA 213 Penson v Titan National Pty Ltd (No.3) [2015] NSWCA 121 Prospect County Council v Cross (1990) 21 NSWLR 601 Simone Starr-Diamond v Talus Diamond (No. 4) (2013) 272 FLR 414; (2013) 224 A Crim R 523; [2013] NSWSC 81 Category: Costs Parties: Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant: Christine May Clough First Defendant/Cross-Claimant: Douglas Martin Breen Second Defendant/Cross-Claimant: Tracey Jane Dillon Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant: D O'Connor Defendants/Cross-Claimants: M McGirr