Ronowska v Kus (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 817

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ronowska v Kus (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 817 Hearing dates: 27 June and 20 July 2012 Decision date: 27 July 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Pembroke J Decision: See paragraph [91] Catchwords: CONTEMPT- deliberate obstruction of course of justice - conduct inconsistent with court order - knowingly false evidence concerning that conduct - intention to prevent plaintiff having benefit of judgment CONTEMPT- distinction between civil and criminal contempt CONTEMPT - distinction between perjury and contempt CONTEMPT - avoidance of personal service - personal service not indispensable - substituted service available in contempt proceedings CONTEMPT - absence of contemnor - discretion whether to proceed with hearing and sentence in his absence CONTEMPT- sentencing considerations - fixed or indefinite term of imprisonment CONTEMPT - warrant for committal to a correctional centre COSTS - power to award indemnity costs in contempt proceedings Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Family Law Act 1975 Powers of Attorney Act 2003 Supreme Court Act 1970 Supreme Court Rules 1970 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Abduranamoski v Abduramanoska [2005] FamCA 88 ACCC v Jones (No 3) [2010] FCA 908 ACCC v Levi (No 3) [2008] FCA 1586 ACCC v World Netsafe Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 1501 ASIC v Matthews [2009] NSWSC 285 Attorney-General for New South Wales v Whiley (1993) 31 NSWLR 314 Australian Consolidated Press Ltd v Morgan [1965] HCA 21; (1965) 112 CLR 483 Australasian Meat Industries Employees' Union v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd [1986] HCA 46; (1986) 161 CLR 98 Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Michalik [2004] NSWSC 1259 Bank of Singapore (Australia) Ltd v Tschannen (New South Wales Supreme Court, Young J, 7 April 1992, unreported) Circuit Finance Australia Ltd v Sobbi [2010] NSWSC 789 Corruption and Crime Commission v Allbeury (No 2) [2011] WASCA 26 Coward v Stapleton [1953] HCA 48; (1953) 90 CLR 573 Crowley v Brown [1964] 1 WLR 147 Danchevsky v Danchevsky [1974] 3 WLR 709; 3 All ER 934 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Sexton [2008] NSWSC 352 Ditfort v Katz [1991] NSWCA 80 Doyle v The Commonwealth [1985] HCA 46; (1985) 156 CLR 510 Drummoyne Municipal Council v Lewis (1974) 1 NSWLR 655 EMI Records Ltd v Ian Wallace Ltd [1983] Ch 59 Ferraro v Woodward [1978] HCA 7; (1978) 143 CLR 102 Flamingo Park Pty Ltd v Dolly Dolly Creation Pty Ltd (1985) 5 FLR 169 Gallagher v Durack [1983] HCA 2; (1983) 152 CLR 238 Hannaford v HH [2012] FCA 560 Haritopoulos Pty Ltd v Scott [2007] VSCA 174 Hearne v Street [2008] HCA 36; (2008) 235 CLR 125 Hinch v Attorney-General (Vic) [1987] HCA 56; (1987) 164 CLR 15 Keeley v Brooking [1979] HCA 28; (1979) 143 CLR 162 Kennedy v Lovell [2002] WASCA 226 Lawrence v The King [1933] AC 699 McGoldrick v Citicorp Finance Pty Ltd [1990] VR 503 McHardie v The Queen [1983] 2 NSWLR 733 McIntyre v Perkes (1988) 15 NSWLR 417 NCR Australia Pty Ltd v Credit Connection Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 1118 P Bockowski Pty Ltd v Kostrzynski [2010] NSWSC 583 PDM v JEM [2006] FamCA 1182 Pang v Bydand Holdings Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 69 R v Cornwell [1972] 2 NSWLR 1 R v Hallocoglu (1991) 29 NSWLR 67 R v Howson (1982) 74 Cr App R 172 R v Jones (1998) 72 SASR 281 R v Jones (No 2) [1972] 1 WLR 887 R v Parry (1997) 92 A Crim R 295 R v Vernell [1953] VLR 591 Re Barrell Enterprises [1972] 1 WLR 19 Re Bramblevale [1970] Ch 128 Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Maniam (No 2) (1992) 26 NSWLR 309 Ronowska v Kus [2012] NSWSC 280 Ryan v Wright (No 2) [2004] NSWSC 1019 Taylor v Whelan [1962] VR 306 Witham v Holloway [1995] HCA 3; (1995) 183 CLR 525 Young v Registrar, Court of Appeal (No 3) (1993) 32 NSWLR 262 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Krystyna Urszula Ronowska - plaintiff Ludwig Kus - first defendant Peter Severin Kus - second defendant Representation: D M Roberts - for the plaintiff K Bozinovska (solicitor) - for the first defendant No appearance for the second defendant George West Solicitor & Attorney - for the plaintiff NSW Trustee & Guardian - for the first defendant No appearance for the second defendant File Number(s): 2011/257705