Chang v Tjiong; Estate of Hok Njan Tjiong [2011] NSWSC 1614

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chang v Tjiong; Estate of Hok Njan Tjiong [2011] NSWSC 1614 Hearing dates: 30 November 2011 Decision date: 23 December 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Probate List Before: White J Decision: Refer to paragraph [42] of judgment. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - costs - costs orders to be made upon discontinuance of proceedings - probate - where plaintiff sought a grant of letters of administration with will annexed - Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 42.19 - whether plaintiff should have appreciated when commenced proceedings that no real prospect of success - whether prima facie rule that on discontinuing proceedings plaintiff should pay costs on ordinary basis - whether plaintiff acted reasonably in filing the summons seeking grant of letters of administration with the will annexed - special rules about costs apply to probate actions - some sound positive ground or reason for making an order to displace the operation of Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 42.19 - order that each party bear their own costs Cases Cited: Chang v Tjiong & Ors [2009] NSWSC 122 Tjiong v Tjiong [2010] NSWSC 578 Re The Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia; Ex parte Lai Qin [1997] HCA 6; (1997) 186 CLR 622 Burnside v Mulgrew & Anor; Re the Estate of Grabrovaz [2007] NSWSC 550 Ortner v Mewjork; Estate of Shing [2009] NSWSC 1381 Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd v Cussons Pty Ltd [1993] FCA 536; (1993) 46 FCR 225; (1993) 118 ALR 248 Bitannia Pty Ltd v Parkline Constructions Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 32 Australiawide Airlines Ltd v Aspirion Pty Limited [2006] NSWCA 365 Altium Limited v APGF Property Limited [2010] NSWSC 732 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Soei Lan Chang (Plaintiff) Katrina Tjiong (Defendant) Representation: L Ellison SC (Plaintiff) M B Evans (Defendants) Glass Goodwin (Plaintiff) O'Brien Lawyers (Defendant) File Number(s): 2011/98337