Leach v The Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd) (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 391

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Leach v The Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd) (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 391 Hearing dates: On the papers Decision date: 14 November 2014 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Gleeson JA at [60]; Sackville AJA at [61] Decision: Respondent's application to vary the costs order made in Leach (No 1) dismissed with costs. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: COSTS - offer of compromise -- whether invalidated by reason of non-compliance with UCPR 20.26(2) - where offer proposing "no order as to costs" - where time offer open for acceptance not set out in offer

COSTS - "walk away" offer - whether genuine offer of compromise - whether reasonable for appellant not to accept - circumstances in which "walk away" offer engages UCPR 42.15A(2)

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - costs - whether purpose of UCPR(20.26(2) that act done in breach of that provision should be invalid Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules (Amendment No 11) 2006 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules (Amendment No 59) 2013 (NSW) Cases Cited: Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Limited v Gordian Runoff Limited (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 12 Caine v Lumley General Insurance Ltd (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 109 Clark v Commissioner of Taxation [2010] FCA 415 Coley v Nominal Defendant [2003] QCA 181; [2004] 1 Qd R 239 Commissioner of Taxation v Moodie [2014] NSWCA 59; (2014) 282 FLR 453 Council of the City of Liverpool v Turano [No 2] [2009] NSWCA 176 Dean v Stockland Property Management Ltd & Anor (No 2) [2010] NSWCA 141 Donnelly v Maxwell-Smith [2010] FCAFC 154 East West Airlines Ltd v Turner (No 2) [2010] NSWCA 159 Hancock v Arnold; Dodd v Arnold (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 19 Lardil, Kaiadilt, Yangkaal and Gangalidda Peoples v State of Queensland [2001] FCA 414; (2001) 108 FCR 453 Leach v The Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance Australia Ltd) (District Court of New South Wales, 7 June 2013, unrep) Leichhardt Municipal Council v Green [2004] NSWCA 341 Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantan Properties Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 344 Morgan v Johnson (1998) 44 NSWLR 578 New South Wales Insurance Ministerial Corporation v Reeve (1993) 42 NSWLR 100 Nominal Defendant v Hawkins [2011] NSWCA 93; (2011) 58 MVR 362 Port Kembla Coal Terminal Ltd v Braverus Maritime Inc (No 2) [2004] FCA 1437; (2004) 212 ALR 281 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 Re Hodgkinson [1895] 2 Ch 190 Regency Media Pty Ltd v AAV Australia Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 368 Robb Evans of Robb Evans & Associates v European Bank Ltd (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 170 Schepis v Commonwealth of Australia [2013] NSWCA 354 Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd [2007] FCA 1489; (2007) 244 ALR 374 South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service v King [2006] NSWCA 2 Taheri v Vitek (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 344 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) t/as Northaven Retirement Village v Takacs (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 172 Vertzayias v King [2011] NSWCA 215 Whitney v Dream Developments Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 188; (2013) 84 NSWLR 311 Texts Cited: G E Dal Pont, Law of Costs (3rd ed 2013, LexisNexis) Category: Costs Parties: Steven Leach - Appellant The Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd) - Respondent Representation: Counsel: D R Campbell SC with D Hourigan - Appellant A J Black SC - Respondent Solicitors: Beston Macken McManis - Appellant Gillis Delaney Lawyers - Respondent File Number(s): 2013/189908 Publication restriction: No Decision under appeal Citation: Leach v The Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd) (District Court of New South Wales, 6 June 2013, unrep) Date of Decision: 2013-06-06 00:00:00 Before: Kearns DCJ File Number(s): 2010/253820