Heperu Pty Ltd & Ors v Patricia Belle (No. 3) [2013] NSWSC 1088

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Heperu Pty Ltd & Ors v Patricia Belle (No. 3) [2013] NSWSC 1088 Hearing dates: 20 August 2012 Decision date: 13 August 2013 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Slattery J Decision: Fourth defendant ordered to pay the plaintiff's costs of the hearing on 21 June 2011, but stay that order until the determination of the remaining issues in the proceedings. Otherwise the plaintiff and the fourth defendant will each bear its and her own costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: PROCEDURE - costs - departing from the general rule - plaintiff seeks tracing orders against four defendants in respect of misappropriated funds - plaintiff settles with two defendants - other defendant bankrupt - plaintiff fails to prove fourth defendant knowingly concerned in fraudulent misappropriation of funds - plaintiff's claim for approximately $2.7 million against all defendants - plaintiff recovers judgment for $89,970.01 against the fourth defendant as a volunteer - whether the fourth defendant should pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings or some part of the proceedings. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Bostik Australia Pty Ltd v Warren Liddiard & Anor (No. 2) [2009] NSWCA 304 Calderbank v Calderbank [1975] 3 WLR 586 Commonwealth v Gretton [2008] NSWCA 117, Heperu Pty Limited & Ors v Morgan Brooks Pty Limited & Ors (No. 2) [2007] NSWSC 1438 Heperu Pty Limited v Belle (2009) 76 NSWLR 230 Heperu Pty Limited v Belle (No. 2) [2010] NSWCA 13 Heperu Pty Limited v Belle [2009]) NSWLR CA 252 Heperu Pty Ltd v Belle [2011] NSWSC 1151 Heperu Pty Ltd v Belle [2012] NSWSC 1647 King Network Group Pty Limited v Club of the Clubs Pty Limited (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 204, Leichhardt Municipal Council v Green [2004] NSWCA 341 at [21] - [24], Macquarie International Health Clinic Pty Ltd v Sydney South West Area Health Service (No. 2) [2011] NSWCA 171 Ottway v Jones [1955] 1 WLR 706 Re Sherborne Estate (No 2); Trade Practices Commission v Nicholas Enterprises (No. 3) (1979) 28 ALR 201 Vanvalen v Neaves [2005] NSWSC 1003 Category: Costs Parties: Plaintiff- Heperu Pty Ltd Defendant- Patricia Belle Representation: Counsel: Solicitors: Plaintiff- T. Bray, Thomas Henry Bray Lawyer Fourth Defendant- litigant in person File Number(s): 03/87360