Idoport Pty Limited & Anor v National Ausralia Bank Limited & 8 Ors, Idoport Pty Limited & Anor v Donald Robert Argus [2004] NSWSC 270

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Idoport Pty Limited & Anor v National Ausralia Bank Limited & 8 Ors, Idoport Pty Limited & Anor v Donald Robert Argus [2004] NSWSC 270 HEARING DATE(S) : 5/04/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 April 2004

JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List JUDGMENT OF : Einstein J DECISION : Reasons given for trial judge refusing to recuse

CATCHWORDS : Courts and Judges - Bias - Principles - Procedures to determine claims that a judge should recuse for apprehended bias - Whether reasonable apprehension of bias - Final hearing of proceedings continued for one and a half years - Proceedings then dismissed for failure to comply with security for costs orders - Defendants motions seek a gross sum costs order - Plaintiff opposes trial judge hearing motions on grounds of apprehended bias relying upon comments as to reasonableness of defendants legal expenditure in resisting the proceedings made on various occasions during determination of sundry interlocutory applications - Refusal to withdraw - Costs - Application for gross sum costs order pursuant to Part 52A rule 6 (2) (c) of the Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Legal Profession Act 1987 (NSW) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Australian National Industries Ltd v Spedley Securities Ltd (in liq) & Anor (1992) 26 NSWLR 411 Bainton v Rajski (1992) 29 NSWLR 539 Barbosa v Di Meglio [1999] NSWCA 307 Barton v Walker (1979) 2 NSWLR 740 Beach Petroleum NL & Claremont Petroleum NL v Johnson (1995) 57 FCR 119 Clenae Pty Ltd & Ors v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2000) 205 CLR 337 Dovade Pty Ltd & Ors v Westpac Banking Group & Anor (1999) 46 NSWLR 168 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337 Finance Sector Union of Australia, Re; Ex Parte Illaton Pty Ltd (1992) 107 ALR 581 Gascor t/as Gas & Fuel v Ellicott, Esso Australia Resource Ltd & BHP Petroleum (NW Shelf) Pty Ltd [1997] 1 VR 332 Gas & Fuel Corporation Superannuation Fund and Ors v Saunders and Anor (1994) 123 ALR 323 Hadid v Lenfest Communications Inc [2000] FCA 628 Hagan v Independent Commission Against Corruption [2003] NSWCA 93 Harrison v Schipp (2002) 54 NSWLR 738 CASES CITED : Idoport Pty Ltd & Anor v National Australia Bank Ltd & Ors, [1999] NSWSC 828; [2000] NSWSC 338; [2000] NSWSC 945; [2000] NSWSC 1141; [2001] NSWSC 427; [2001] NSWSC 509; [2001] NSWSC 648; [2001] NSWSC 838 JRL, Re; Ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342 Kwan v Kang [2003] NSWCA 336 Laws v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (1990) 170 CLR 70 Livesey v New South Wales Bar Association (1983) 151 CLR 288 Masters v R (1992) 26 NSWLR 450 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia (2001) 205 CLR 507 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Wang (2003) 196 ALR 385 R v Australian Stevedoring Industry Board; Ex Parte Melbourne Stevedoring Co Ltd (1953) 88 CLR 100 R v Commonwealth Conciliation & Arbitration Commission; Ex parte Angliss Group (1969) 122 CLR 546 R v Watson; ex parte Armstrong (1976) 136 CLR 248 Rajski v Wood & Ors (1989) 18 NSWLR 512 Re Keely; Ex Parte Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd (1990) 94 ALR 1 Vakauta v Kelly (1989) 167 CLR 568 Webb & Hay v R (1994) 181 CLR 41 Wentworth v Wentworth, unreported, NSWCA, 21 February 1996, BC9600215 Idoport Pty Limited (Plaintiff) PARTIES : National Australia Bank Limited (Defendant) Donald Robert Argus (Defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50113/98; 50026/99 COUNSEL : Mr N Hutley SC, Mr A Paterson (P) Mr TF Bathurst QC, Mr JA Halley (D) SOLICITORS : Withnell Hetherington (Plaintiff) Freehills (Defendant)