Commissioner of Police v Hoffman [2014] NSWDC 113

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Commissioner of Police v Hoffman [2014] NSWDC 113 Hearing dates: 17 April 2014, 3 June 2014 Decision date: 04 June 2014 Before: Neilson DCJ Decision: Application for leave to appeal refused. Catchwords: COSTS - Whether counsel entitled to claim brief on hearing fee where matter settled 10 days prior to hearing date - Whether reasonable to brief counsel on hearing immediately after a date was fixed for hearing - Counsel entitled to charge brief on hearing notwithstanding settlement - Work in substitution may disentitle charging of brief on hearing - Chamber work no substitute for appearance in court Legislation Cited: Legal Profession Act 1987 Legal Profession Reform Act 1993 Legal Profession Act 2004 Police Regulation (Superannuation) Act 1906 Cases Cited: Commissioner of Australian and Federal Police v Razzi (1991) 101 ALR 425 Donovan v Miller [1987] VR 221 Gannon v The Commissioner of Police (2004) 1 DDCR 381 Grose v Commissioner of Police [2012] NSWDC 215; (2012) 11 DDCR 192 Klas Pty Ltd v Australian Ophthalmic Supplies Pty Ltd [2007] WADC 79 Levy v Bergseng [2008] NSWSC 294; (2008) 72 NSWLR 178 Murray v The Commissioner of Police [2004] NSWCA 365; (2004) 2 DDCR 31 Page v Commissioner of Police (No. 1) [2012] NSWDC 130; (2012) 10 DDCR 428; Re Mayer [1947] VLR 363 R v Martiniello [2005] ACTSC 109 Rogers v Commissioner of Police (2005) 2 DDCR 515 Ross v The Commissioner of Police (2009) 7 DDCR 397 Stewart v NSW Police Service (1998) 17 NSWCCR 202 Wide Bay Conservation Council Inc v Burnett Water Pty Ltd (No 9) [2011] FCA 661 Wilkie v Gordian Runoff [2005] NSWSC 873 Texts Cited: Professor G E Dal Pont, Law of Costs, (3rd ed, 2013, Lexis Nexis Butterworths) AG Saddington Esq, Taxation of Costs Between Parties (1919, Law Book Company) AG Saddington Esq & BK White Esq, Costs (Solicitor and Client), (1947, Law Book Company) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Commissioner of Police (Applicant) Lawrence William Hoffman (Respondent) Representation: Solicitors Turks Legal (Plaintiff) Walter Madden Jenkins (Defendant) Counsel Mr M Davies (Plaintiff) Mr P O'Rourke (Defendant) File Number(s): 2013/351577 Publication restriction: No