Steve Watt Constructions v Formscan [2000] NSWSC 833

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Steve Watt Constructions v Formscan [2000] NSWSC 833 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Common Law FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 12099 of 1999 HEARING DATE(S) : 14 August 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 24 August 2000

Steve Watt Constructions Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) PARTIES : v Formscan Pty Ltd (Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Master Malpass

LOWER COURT Costs Assessment JURISDICTION : LOWER COURT 90660 of 1999 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Mr J M Goodman JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Mr M Condon (Plaintiff) Mr J Bartos (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Gordon A Salier (Plaintiff) Colin Biggers & Paisley (Defendant) CATCHWORDS : Appeal from decision of Costs Assessor - fresh evidence - is an arbitrator a court or a tribunal - statutory assessment process (as opposed to old taxation regime) - considerations of what are fair and reasonable hourly rates of staff costs - costs - sufficiency of disclosure of reasoning process - exercise of the discretionary power had in respect of costs of the assessment. Commercial Arbitration Act 1984, s 34, s 34 (2). Legal Profession Act 1987, Pt 11, s 173, Pt 11 Div 6; Div 6 subdiv 1; s 202, Div 6 subdiv 3; LEGISLATION CITED : s 208F, s 208F (4), s 208G, s 208L, s 208M, s 208M (1) and (2), Sch 8. Legal Profession Regulation 1994, cl 26D. Australian Blue Metal Ltd v Hughes and Others (1970) 2 NSWR 119. Cachia v Hanes (1994) 179 CLR 403. CASES CITED : Kerridge & Anor v Foley & Anor (Street J, unreported, 19 August 1970). Madden v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation [1999] NSWSC 196. Turner v Pride (1999) NSWSC 850. Walton v McBride (1995) 36 NSWLR 440. DECISION : See paragraph 38.