Gorczynski v Beilby [2005] NSWSC 884

New South Wales Supreme Court

Gorczynski v Beilby [2005] NSWSC 884 CITATION : This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

17/08/05 HEARING DATE(S) : 18/08/05 26/08/05

JUDGMENT DATE : 5 September 2005

JURISDICTION : Common Law Division

JUDGMENT OF : Kirby J

DECISION : (1) In the action by Mr Peter Gorczynski against Beilbys (2004/13454) the amended summons is dismissed with costs; (2) In the action by Scope Data Systems against Beilbys (2004/13455) the amended summons is dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : Costs - dispute with solicitor - right of solicitor to withdraw bill of costs and substitute a new bill - the rule and the exceptions - whether bill in taxable form - right to amend application for assessment - whether costs assessor obliged to give reasons for ruling - whether error of law.

Legal Practitioners Act 1987 LEGISLATION CITED : Legal Profession Regulations 1994 Legal Profession Regulations 2002

Scope Data Systems P/L v Horowitz (unreported, 30.7.97, Master Harrison) Florence Investments P/L v H G Slater & Co (1975) 2 NSWLR 398 Bowen & Ors v Campbell & Ors (unreported, Master Malpass, 2.12.97) Re Macnamara's Costs (1884) 1 WN 23 Ex Parte Steel (1898) 15 WN (NSW) 96 Re Sullivan Bros; Ex Parte Morris (1915) 32 WN (NSW) 127 Ex Parte Cameron; Re a Bill of Costs (1956) 73 WN (NSW) 393 Loveridge v Botham (1797) 1 Bos & Pul 49; 126 ER 772 Re Edwin Sutherland & Co's Bill of Costs (1971) Qd R 318 CASES CITED : Re Thompson (1885) 30 Ch D 441 Re Grant, Bulcraig & Co [1906] 1 Ch Div 124 Redfern v Mineral Engineers P/L [1987] VR 518 Re Lippiatt & Co's Bill of Costs (1998) 1 Qd R 69 Re Holroyde & Smith (1881) 43 LT 722 Brierley v Reeves (2001) 51 NSWLR 689 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) P/L (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Pettitt v Dunkley (1971) 1 NSWLR 376 Stoker v Adecco Gemvale Constructions P/L & Anor [2004] NSWCA 449 Public Service Board v Osmond (1986) 159 CLR 656