Enterprise Finance Solutions Pty Ltd v Ciszek [2014] NSWDC 314

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Enterprise Finance Solutions Pty Ltd v Ciszek [2014] NSWDC 314 Hearing dates: 16 October 2014 Decision date: 23 December 2014 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Summons dismissed. (2) Plaintiff pay defendant's costs. (3) Liberty to apply in relation to costs. (4) Exhibits retained for 28 days. Catchwords: COSTS - s 384 Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) appeal from Review Panel costs assessment review - solicitor and barrister charged fees without entering into a costs agreement - whether Review Panel erred in refusing the plaintiff's application to assess the costs at nil - whether indemnity principle invoked where there was no costs agreement and no evidence of payment - whether Review Panel erred in finding there had been no procedural unfairness where the costs assessor had adjourned the proceedings to permit a solicitor/client assessment - whether solicitor/client assessment necessary at all - appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW), ss 317, 324, 356 and 384 Cases Cited: Ada Evans Chambers Pty Ltd v Santisi [2014] NSWSC 538 Adams v London Improved Motor Coach Builders Ltd [1921] 1 KB 495 Autore t/as Autore & Associate Solicitors & Barristers v Folino-Gallo [2014] NSWSC 777 Bellevarde Constructions Pty Ltd v CPC Energy Pty Ltd (2011) 12 DCLR (NSW) 304 Catto and Ors v Hampton Australia Ltd (In Liq) and Ors [2008] SASC 231 Coshott v Barry [2010] NSWSC 1324 CSR Ltd v Eddy (2008) 70 NSWLR 725 Dyktinski v BHP Titanium Minerals Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 154 Fordyce v Fordham and Anor (No 1) [2007] NSWSC 1036 Frumar v Owners of Strata Plan 36957 (2006) 67 NSWLR 321 Gorczynski v AWM Dickinson & Sons [2005] NSWSC 277 Halliday v High Performance Personnel Pty Ltd (in liq) [1999] HCA 13 Howard & Ors v Mechtler & Ors [2000] NSWSC 455 Khan v Jenni Mattila & Co Lawyers [2011] NSWSC 71 Kuek v Devflan Pty Ltd (Supreme Court of Victoria, Wood AsJ, 29 August 2011) O'Connor v Fitti [2000] NSWSC 540 Port Melbourne Authority v Anshun (1981) 147 CLR 589 Sittchichai Laksanabechnarong v F Net Pty Ltd (District Court of New South Wales, McLoughlin DCJ, 16 September 2011) Steele v Marshan [2012] NSWSC 32 Steele v Marshan [2012] NSWCA 141 Sunland Waterfront (BVI) Ltd v Prudentia Investments Pty Ltd (No. 4) [2013] VSC 669 Telfer v Telfer (No 3) [2014] NSWCA 251 Ventouris Enterprises Pty Ltd v Dib Group Pty Ltd (No 4) [2011] NSWSC 720 Wende v Horwath (NSW) Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 170 Wentworth v Rogers (2006) 66 NSWLR 474 Texts Cited: G E Dal Pont "Law of Costs" (3rd ed., 2013, LexisNexis) M Wilson, "Costs: Failure to disclose reduces court ordered costs", Law Society Journal (March 2012) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Enterprise Finance Solutions Pty Ltd Defendant: Richard Michael Ciszek Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: Mr S Bell Defendant: Ms M Castle / Mr E Yin