Kardos v Sarbutt (No. 2) [2006] NSWCA 206

Reported Decision : (2006) DFC 95-337

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Kardos v Sarbutt (No. 2) [2006] NSWCA 206

HEARING DATE(S): 30 March 2006 - written submissions closed

JUDGMENT DATE: 27 July 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Basten JA at 1; Hunt AJA at 5; Brereton J at 6

DECISION: No order as to costs of proceedings at first instance generally, save that defendant to pay plaintiff's costs of application for interlocutory proceedings for preservation of property pending trial. Respondent to pay appellant's costs of appeal.

CATCHWORDS: FAMILY LAW – COSTS – De facto relationships – costs of property adjustment proceedings where amount recovered is less than jurisdictional limit of Local Court – costs of property adjustment proceedings where neither party can be said to have been wholly or substantially successful or to have bettered offer – "substantial success" - APPEAL – effect of substituted judgment.

(CTH) Family Law Act, s 117 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005, ss 98, 99, 101(3) (NSW) Conveyancing Act 1919, s 66G (NSW) Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2003, Schedule 6(1) (NSW) District Court Act 1973, s 134(1)(g), s 134(3) LEGISLATION CITED: (NSW) Local Court (Civil Claims) Act 1970, s 12 (NSW) Property (Relationships) Act, s 10 (NSW) Suitors Fund Act, s 6 (NSW) DCR Pt 39A r 12, Pt 51D r 1 (NSW) SCR Pt 52 rr 22, 24, 24A, 34, 35 (NSW) UCPR rr 36.4, 42.30

Butcher v Pooler (1883) 24 Ch D 273 Chanter v Catts (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 179 Crellin v Robertson [2005] ACTSC 36; (2005) DFC 95-316 Deves v Porter [2003] NSWSC 878 Gould v Vaggelas (1985) 157 CLR 215 Government Insurance Office (NSW) v Healy [No. 2] (1991) 22 NSWLR 380 Hamer v Giles (1879) 11 Ch D 942 Harris v Schembri (NSWSC, 7 November 1995, unreported, BC 9501757) Hawkins v Parsons (1862) 8 Jur (NS) 452; CASES CITED: Kardos v Sarbutt [2006] NSWCA 11 Magera v MacIntosh (No 2) (2005) DFC 95-319 Newton v Taylor (1827) 19 Eq 14 Nicholson v Nicholson (No 2), Court of Appeal (BC9504206), 1 February 1995 NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation v Gomes (No 2), Court of Appeal (BC9807723), 3 December 1998 Official Receiver in Bankruptcy v Schultz (1990) 170 CLR 306 Parsons v Hayward (1862) 4 De GF&J 474 Shellharbour City Council v Johnson [No 2] [2006] NSWCA 114 Van Zonneveld v Seaton [2005] NSWSC 175 Vollmer v Hauber Davidson [2006] NSWCA 79