George v Webb & ors [2012] NSWSC 86

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: George v Webb & ors [2012] NSWSC 86 Hearing dates: 7 February 2012 Decision date: 07 February 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Ward J Decision: Amendment to order for interest previously made under the slip rule. Costs orders made. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - operation of slip rule - Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rule 36.17 - whether amendment to the date from which interest calculated falls within the operation of the slip rule - HELD - not within scope of slip rule

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - reopening of hearing - whether interests of justice require reopening of issue - where no suggestion that material previously unavailable - HELD - proper basis for reopening hearing after judgment not established

COSTS - offer of compromise - whether genuine element of compromise where offer of compromise by plaintiff gave up claim to interest on the principal sum claimed - HELD -offer involving genuine element of compromise and not derisory nor mere offer for defendant to surrender - order for indemnity costs granted

COSTS - Calderbank offers - basis for special costs sanctions being whether offeree's failure to accept offer in all the circumstances warrants departure from ordinary rule as to costs - where Calderbank offer by plaintiff gave up claim to both interest and costs - had issue arisen finding would have been that it was unreasonable for defendants to reject offer Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Anderson Group Pty Ltd v Tynan Motors Pty Ltd (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 120 Barnes v Addy (1874) LR 9 Ch App 244 Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Limited v Gordian Runoff Limited (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 12 Bennette v Cohen (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 162 Caine v Lumley General Insurance Ltd (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 109 Calderbank v Calderbank [1975] 3 WLR 586 Cat Media Pty Ltd v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2006] NSWSC 790 Commonwealth of Australia v Gretton [2008] NSWCA 117 Computer Machinery Co Ltd v Drescher [1983] 1 WLR 1379; [1983] 3 All ER 153 DSE (Holdings) Pty Ltd v InterTAN Inc [2004] FCA 1251; (2004) 51 ACSR 555 East West Airlines Limited v Turner (No 2) [2010] NSWCA 159 Elite Protective Personnel Pty Ltd v Salmon [2007] NSWCA 322 Evans Shire Council v Richardson (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 61 Falkner v Bourke (1990) 19 NSWLR 574 Herning v GWS Machinery Pty Ltd (No 2) [2005] NSWCA 375 Hillier v Sheather (1995) 36 NSWLR 414 Hobartville Stud Pty Ltd v Union Insurance Co Ltd (1991) 25 NSWLR 358 Hungerfords v Walker (1989) 171 CLR 125 In re Swire; Mellor v Swire (1885) 30 ChD 239 Ivanhoe Gold Corporation Limited v Symonds (1906) 4 CLR 642 Lahoud v Lahoud [2011] NSWCA 405 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Green [2004] NSWCA 341 Maitland Hospital v Fisher (No 2) (1992) 27 NSWLR 721 Meister v Hutchinson [1987] 10 NSWLR 525 Morgan v Johnson (1998) 44 NSWLR 578 Multicom Engineering Pty Ltd v Federal Airports Corporations (1996) 138 ALR 425 Mutual Shipping Corp of New York v Bayshore Shipping Co [1985] 1 All ER 520; [1985] 1 All ER 520; [1985] 1 Lloyd's Rep 189 Newmont Yandal Operations Pty Ltd v J. Aron Corporation and the Goldman Sachs Group Inc & 3 ors [2007] NSWCA 195; (2007) 70 NSWLR 411 Old v McInnes and Hodgkinson [2011] NSWCA 410 Oshlack v Richmond River Council [1998] HCA 11; (1998) 193 CLR 72 Re Scott & Alvarez Contract [1895] 1 Ch 594 Regency Media Pty Ltd v AAV Australia Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 368 Rosebanner Pty Ltd v Ausgrid [2011] NSWCA 150 Shorten v David Hurst Constructions Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 609 Smallacombe v Lockyer Investment Co Pty Ltd (1993) 42 FCR 97 SMEC Testing Services Pty Ltd v Campbelltown City Council [2002] NSWCA 323 South Eastern Area Health Service v King [2006] NSWCA 2 Storey & Keers Pty Ltd & Anor v Johnstone (1987) 9 NSWLR 446 The Uniting Church v Takacs (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 172 Tickell v Trifleska Pty Ltd (1990) 25 NSWLR 353 Urban Transport Authority of New South Wales v Nweiser (1991) 28 NSWLR 471 Victorian Workcover Authority v Esso Australia Ltd [2001] HCA 53; 207 CLR 520 Texts Cited: Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure NSW Category: Costs Parties: Jane Anne George (Plaintiff) Lewis James Webb (First Defendant/First Cross-Claimant) Dennis Patrick Grogan (Second Defendant/Second Cross-Claimant) Martin Geoffrey Burke (Third Defendant/Cross-Defendant) Representation: Counsel E T Finnane (Plaintiff) I Griscti (First and Second Defendants) Solicitors Uther Webster & Evans (Plaintiff) Gilchrist Connell (First and Second Defendants/Cross-claimants) M Mazonne (Solicitor) Diamond Conway (Third Defendant/Cross-defendant) File Number(s): 09/291563