Letterbox Holdings Pty Ltd v Stephen John Kirkham & Anor [2003] NSWSC 177

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Letterbox Holdings Pty Ltd v Stephen John Kirkham & Anor [2003] NSWSC 177 HEARING DATE(S) : 3 March 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 21 March 2003

JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List JUDGMENT OF : Nicholas J DECISION : Plaintiff's further amended summons is dismissed; Leave granted to enforce Award on costs; Judgment entered in terms of the Award; Order Plaintiff pay Defendants $80,307.68 on account of costs; Direction under s 202 of the Legal Profession Act 1987 that Defendants' bill of costs be referred to a costs assessor for assessment; Plaintiff pay Defendants' costs of these proceedings

CATCHWORDS : PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - COSTS - COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION Application for leave to appeal against Arbitrator's decision to award costs on a solicitor and client basis - Whether Arbitrator within jurisdiction - Whether implied repeal restricts Arbitrator's jurisdiction - Whether Arbitrator's findings inconsistent - Whether proper exercise of discretion - Whether manifest error. HELD - leave refused. Further amended summons dismissed PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE Application for leave to enforce Arbitrator's award of costs. HELD - leave granted Compensation Court Act 1984 (NSW) s 18(2)(c) Commercial Arbitration Act 1984 (NSW) ss 34(1), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c), 34(5), 34(6), 38(4), 38(5), 38(5)(b)(ii), District Court Act 1973 (NSW) s 148(B)(1)(c) LEGISLATION CITED : Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 69(2)(c) Legal Profession Act 1987 (NSW) s 202, para 45 of Sch 8, Div 6 of Pt 11, subdiv 3 of Div 6 of Pt 11, ss 208F, 208G, 208H, 208I Legal Profession Reform Act 1993 (NSW) ss 3, 4, Sch 3, 6 Local Courts (Civil Claims) Act 1970 (NSW) s 34(1)(c) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 76(1)(c) New South Wales v Coya (Constructions) Pty Ltd (NSWCA, 4 August 1995, Unreported) CASES CITED : Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 Promenade Investments Pty Ltd v New South Wales (1992) 26 NSWLR 203 Saraswati v R (1991) 172 CLR 1 Letterbox Holdings Pty Ltd - Plaintiff PARTIES : Stephen John Kirkham - First Defendant Lynda Christine Kirkham - Second Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 05698/02 COUNSEL : P Graham QC/R Newton - Plaintiff R McKeand - Defendants SOLICITORS : Bradfield & Scott - Plaintiff Holman Webb - Defendants