SMEC Testing Services Pty Ltd v Campbelltown City Council [2000] NSWCA 323

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : SMEC Testing Services Pty Ltd v Campbelltown City Council [2000] NSWCA 323 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40744/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 25 October 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 14 November 2000

PARTIES : SMEC Testing Services Pty Ltd - Appellant Campbelltown City Council - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Priestley JA at 1; Giles JA at 35; Rolfe AJA at 51

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 3515/96 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Taylor DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : P W Larkin - Appellant C Needham SC - Respondent SOLICITORS : HIH Legal Services Pty Ltd - Appellant Phillips Fox - Respondent CATCHWORDS : COSTS - plaintiff claims against defendant - defendant cross-claims against three cross-defendants - offer of compromise under rules made to defendant by one of the cross-defendants - no costs consequences under rules - treated as Calderbank letter - also Calderbank letter sent - plaintiff succeeds against defendant and defendant against all cross-defendants - but for less than amount of offer - whether defendant should pay cross-defendant's costs - by majority, departure from ordinary rule not warranted - cross-defendant to pay defendant's costs. D Calderbank v Calderbank (1976) Fam 93; Messiter v Hutchinson (1987) 10 NSWLR 525; State Superannuation Board v Property Estates (Qld) Pty Ltd (Cole J, 8 February 1991, unreported); AWA Ltd v Daniels (Rogers CJ Com Div, 8 October 1992, unreported); CASES CITED: Beregold Pty Lted v Mitsopoulos (Cole J, 20 November 1992, unreported); John S Hayes & Associates Pty Ltd v Kimberley-Clarke Australia Pty Ltd (1994) 52 FLR 201; MGICA (1992) Pty Ltd v Kenny & Good Pty Ltd (1996) 70 FLR 235; Multicon Engineering Pty Ltd v Federal Airports Corporation (1996) 138 ALR 425; England v Van Donk (CA, 5 December 1997, unreported). DECISION : Leave to appeal granted; (By majority) Appeal dismissed with costs.