Dunstan v Rickwood (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 266

Reported Decision: (2007) DFC 95-407

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Dunstan v Rickwood (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 266

HEARING DATE(S): On the papers.

JUDGMENT DATE: 28 September 2007

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; Ipp JA at 2; McColl JA at 3

DECISION: The appellant to pay the respondent's costs of the trial from August 2004.

CATCHWORDS: FAMILY LAW AND CHILD WELFARE – De facto relationships – costs – costs of property adjustment proceedings under Property (Relationships) Act 1984 – whether "starting position" in cases under the Act that each party should pay its own costs – HELD – cannot confine discretion conferred by s 98, Civil Procedure Act 2005 and UCPR 42.1 by adopting "starting position" principle – costs should follow the event - PROCEDURE – costs – indemnity costs – offers made did not comply with offer of compromise rules, nor constitute a Calderbank letter – whether party acted so unreasonably as to warrant award of indemnity costs – HELD - no

Civil Procedure Act 2005 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 Legal Profession Act 2004 LEGISLATION CITED: Property (Relationships) Act 1984 Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) District Court Rules 1973 Supreme Court Rules 1970 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005

Bruinsma v Menczer (1995) 40 NSWLR 716 Calderbank v Calderbank [1976] Fam 93 Dunstan v Rickwood [2007] NSWCA 147 Fordyce v Fordham & Anor (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 362 Ghunaim v Bart (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 82 Hyman v Rose [1912] AC 623 CASES CITED: Jones v Bradley (No 2) [2003] NSWCA 258 Kardos v Sarbutt (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 206 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Green [2004] NSWCA 341 Oshlack v Richmond River Council [1998] HCA 11; (1998) 193 CLR 72 Rolls Royce Industrial Power (Pacific) Ltd (Formerly John Thompson (Australia) Pty Limited) v James Hardie & Co Pty Ltd (Pacific) Limited [2001] NSWCA 461; (2001) 53 NSWLR 626 Sydney City Council v Geftlick and Ors [2006] NSWCA 280 Von Zonneveld v Seaton [2005] NSWSC 175 Williamson v Mig Aero Pty Ltd (McLelland J, 15 March 1991, unreported)