Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 702

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 702 Hearing dates: 22 June 2012 Decision date: 22 June 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Hallen AsJ Decision: Order that the Defendant's costs, calculated on the ordinary basis, agreed at $45,000, be paid out of the share of the estate of the deceased passing to the first Plaintiff. Order that to the extent that there is any difference between the Defendant's ordinary costs and the indemnity costs, that difference be paid out of the deceased's estate. Catchwords: COSTS - Plaintiffs' application dismissed - Defendant seeks an order that their costs be paid by the first Plaintiff - Whether Defendant's costs should be paid out of estate - Whether Court should depart from usual costs order - Defendant's costs calculated on the ordinary basis be paid out of first Plaintiff's share of estate Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Family Provision Act 1982 Practice Note SC Eq 7 Succession Act 2006 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Australiawide Airlines Limited t/as Regional Express v Aspirion Pty Limited [2006] NSWCA 365 Bartkus v Bartkus [2010] NSWSC 889 Bodman, Re [1972] Qd R 281 Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 275 Carey v Robson (No 2) [2009] NSWSC 1199 Dobb v Hacket (1993) 10 WAR 532 Foots v Southern Cross Mine Management Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 56; (2007) 234 Forsyth v Sinclair (No 2) [2010] VSCA 195 Harkness v Harkness (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 35 Jvancich v Kennedy (No 2) [2004] NSWCA 397 Lillis v Lillis [2010] NSWSC 359 Luxmore Pty Ltd v Hydedale Pty Ltd [2008] VSCA 212; (2008) 20 VR 481 McCusker v Rutter [2010] NSWCA 318 McDougall v Rogers; Estate of James Rogers [2006] NSWSC 484 Mikan v Velcic (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 505 Morse v Morse (No 2) [2003] TASSC 145 Moussa v Moussa [2006] NSWSC 509 Ohn v Walton (1995) 36 NSWLR 77 Oshlack v Richmond River Council [1998] HCA 11; (1998) 193 CLR 72 Shearer v The Public Trustee (NSWSC, Young J, 21 April 1998, unreported) Sherborne Estate (No 2, Re); Vanvalen v Neaves [2005] NSWSC 1003 Singer v Berghouse [1993] HCA 35; (1993) 114 ALR 521 Sitch (No 2), Re [2005] VSC 383 Smith v Smith (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 1105 Category: Costs Parties: Wendy Bowditch (first Plaintiff) Amiiy Fuge (second Plaintiff) Luke Wright (third Plaintiff) NSW Trustee and Guardian (Defendant) Representation: Mr G McCartney (sol) (first and second Plaintiffs) Ms M Cunningham (sol) (third Plaintiff) (mentioned by Mr G McCartney) Ms V Hartstein (Defendant) Simmons & McCartney Lawyers & Attorneys (first and second Plaintiffs) Cunningham Legal (third Plaintiff) NSW Trustee and Guardian (Defendant) File Number(s): 2011/25494