Dean v Stockland Property Management Pty Ltd & Anor (No 2) [2010] NSWCA 141

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Dean v Stockland Property Management Pty Ltd & Anor (No 2) [2010] NSWCA 141

HEARING DATE(S): (On written submissions)

JUDGMENT DATE: 17 June 2010

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA; Handley AJA; Whealy J

DECISION: We decline to vary the costs order previously made. The appellant must pay the respondents' costs of the costs application.

CATCHWORDS: COSTS - indemnity costs - offer to compromise appeal on terms: (1) new trial and (2) each party to pay own costs of appeal - offer rejected - whether offer a true compromise - on facts, a true compromise - whether offer invalid under the rules as not exclusive of costs (r 20.26(2)) - offer not exclusive of costs and invalid under UCPR - consideration of rationale of r 20.26(2) - whether offer operated as Calderbank offer - intention must be manifested - intention not shown - whether first respondent entitled to ignore offer due to contractual indemnity from second respondent - entitlement to indemnity not yet established and irrelevant to costs order as between appellant and first respondent - whether second respondent unable to accept offer because Court's finding under r 51.53 required - consent to new trial admits substantial wrong or miscarriage - able to accept offer - whether general discretion enlivened because respondents' positions untenable - positions not untenable.

CATEGORY: Consequential orders

The Anderson Group Pty Ltd v Tynan Motors Pty Ltd (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 120, (2006) 67 NSWLR 706; Associated Confectionery (Aust) Ltd v Mineral and Chemical Traders Pty Ltd (1991) 25 NSWLR 349; Atkinson v Zey [2008] NSWCA 30; Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd v Gordian Runnoff Ltd (formerly GIO Insurance Ltd) & Ors [2006] NSWSC 583; Re Bond Corp Holdings Ltd (1990) 1 WAR 465; Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd v Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation Ltd (1993) ANZ Conv R 347; Dean-Wilcocks (as liq of SJP Formwork (NSW) Pty Ltd (In Liq)) v Commissioner of Taxation (No 2) [2004] NSWSC 286; (2004) 49 ACSR 325; Fountain Selected Meats (Sales) Pty Ltd v International Produce Merchants Pty Ltd (1988) 81 ALR 397; CASES CITED: Frisbo Holdings Pty Ltd v Austin Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 298; Herning v GWS Machinery Pty Ltd (No 2) [2005] NSWCA 375; Jones v Bradley (No 2) [2003] NSWCA 258; Leichhardt Municipal Council v Green [2004] NSWCA 341; Optus v Leighton [2002] NSWSC 450; Penrith Rugby League Club Ltd Trading as Cardiff Panthers v Elliot (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 356; Tarabay v Fifty Property Investments Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 951; Tickell v Trifleska Pty Ltd (1990) 25 NSWLR 353; Trustee for the Salvation Army (NSW) Property Trust & Anor v Becker (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 194; Ugly Tribe Co Pty Ltd v Sikiola [2001] VSC 189 Warkworth Mininng Co Pty Ltd v O'Connor [1996] NSWCA 546.