Fu Chen v Stephen Paul Firth trading as Firths, The Compensation Lawyers [2013] NSWSC 1873

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Fu Chen v Stephen Paul Firth trading as Firths, The Compensation Lawyers [2013] NSWSC 1873 Hearing dates: 14 August 2013, 14 October 2013, 29 October 2013, 28 November 2013 Decision date: 17 December 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Price J Decision: 1. Firths' Notice of Motion seeking leave for an order permitting withdrawal of the offer of compromise is dismissed. 2. Judgment for Fu Chen the plaintiff, in the sum of two thousand dollars against Stephen Paul Firth the defendant trading as Firths, The Compensation Lawyers in proceedings case number 2012/391980. 3. Firths are to pay Fu Chen's costs of the motions on an indemnity basis. Such costs are restricted to a hearing of not more than one day. Catchwords: PROCEDURE- withdrawal of an offer of compromise - suspicion of fraud - costs -indemnity costs Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 s 98(1)(c) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 r 14.24, r 20.26, r 20.26(11), r 20.27(1), r 42.1, r 42.2 Cases Cited: Cumper v Pothecary [1941] 2 KB 58 Gett v Tabet (2009) 254 ALR 504; [2009] NSWCA 76 Ghazal v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (1992) 29 NSWLR 336 Ji v Firth [2013] NSWSC 186 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Green [2004] NSWCA 341 Lewis v Combell Constructions Pty Ltd (1989) 18 NSWLR 528 Maule v Liporoni (No 2) (2002) 122 LGERA 216; [2002] NSWLEC 140 Minister Administering the Crown Lands (Consolidation Act) and Western Lands Act v Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council (1990) 71 LGRA 201 Mohamed v Farah [2004] NSWSC 482 Rufo v Hosking (2004) 61 NSWLR 678; [2004] NSWCA 391 Scanruby Pty Ltd v Caltex Petroleum Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 411 Spring v Sydney South West Area Health Service [2009] NSWSC 420 WA Sherratt Ltd v John Bromley (Church Stretton) Ltd [1985] 1 QB 1038 Young v Combe (NSWSC, 29 July 1993, unreported) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Fu Chen (Plaintiff/Respondent) Stephen Paul Firth (Defendant/Applicant) Representation: Counsel: Mr H Marshall SC & Mr Adelstein (Plaintiff/Respondent) Mr R Goodridge (Defendant/Applicant) Solicitors: Mr K Nath – Diamond Conway Lawyers (Plaintiff/Respondent) Mr A McQuilkin – Firths - the Compensation Lawyers (Defendant/Applicant) File Number(s): 2012/391980