Bailey v Meredith [2001] NSWCA 149

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Bailey v Meredith [2001] NSWCA 149 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40649/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 11 May 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 11 May 2001

PARTIES : Adam Bailey (Appellant) Gordon Meredith (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Beazley JA at 28; Stein JA at 1; Giles JA at 29

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 267/98 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Sidis DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : J D Hislop QC/M Vesper (Appellant) I D Cullen (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Blake Dawson Waldron (Sydney, NSW) (Appellant) Stanger & Clarke (Newcastle, NSW) (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : PROCEDURE - Costs - Part 39A, rule 25 of the District Court Rules - offer of compromise - Calderbank offer - whether exceptional circumstances or for the avoidance of substantial injustice - ND LEGISLATION CITED : Motor Accidents Act 1988 District Court Rules 1973 Hillier v Sheather (1995) 36 NSWLR 414 Maitland Hospital v Fisher (1992) 29 NSWLR 721 CASES CITED: Morgan v Johnson (1998) 44 NSWLR 578 NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation v Reeve (1993) 42 NSWLR 100 Houatchanthara v Bednarczyk (Unreported, 14 October 1996, Court of Appeal) DECISION : Appeal allowed; Appellant to pay respondent's costs of the appeal and of the leave application; Verdict and Judgment on costs of her Honour Judge Sidis of 12 August 1999 set aside; The appellant pay the respondent's costs in respect of the claim up and including 18 June 1998 on a party and party basis; The respondent pay the appellant's costs in respect of the claim after 18 June 1998 on a party and party basis; That the entry of an order that the costs of each party be set off.