Rickard Constructions v Rickard Hails Moretti & Ors [2005] NSWSC 481

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Rickard Constructions v Rickard Hails Moretti & Ors [2005] NSWSC 481

HEARING DATE(S) : 7 April 2005

JUDGMENT DATE : 27 May 2005

JURISDICTION : Technology & Construction List

JUDGMENT OF : McDougall J at 1

DECISION : See paras [51] and [52] of judgment

CATCHWORDS : COSTS - application for indemnity costs - where third defendant sent Calderbank letter and made separate offer of compromise prior to trial - whether Calderbank offer was reasonable - whether rejection of offer was unreasonable - where reasonableness determined objectively - no question of principle

LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Rules Pt 22, Pt 52A, r 22

Calderbank v Calderbank [1976] Fam 93 GIO General Ltd v ABB Installation and Service Pty Ltd [2000] NSWCA 118 Jones v Bradley (No 2) [2003] NSWCA 258 CASES CITED : Leichhardt Municipal Council v Green [2004] NSWCA 341 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 SMEC Testing Services Pty Ltd v Campbelltown City Council [2000] NSWCA 323

Rickard Constructions Pty Limited (Plaintiff) Rickard Hails Moretti Pty Limited (First Defendant) PARTIES : Jeffery & Katauskas Pty Limited (Second Defendant) Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Third Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 55027/00

F C Corsaro SC/T G R Parker (Plaintiff) S R Donaldson SC/P S Braham (First Defendant) COUNSEL : M Dempsey SC/J Steele (Second Defendant) A S Martin SC/A J McInerney (Third Defendant)

Maurice Blackburn Cashman (Plaintiff) Moray & Agnew (First Defendant) SOLICITORS : Colin Biggers & Paisley (Second Defendant) Moroney Betts (Third Defendant)