Chan v Acres (No 3) [2016] NSWSC 1389

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chan v Acres (No 3) [2016] NSWSC 1389 Hearing dates: 21/09/2016 Date of orders: 30 September 2016 Decision date: 30 September 2016 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: McDougall J Decision: See at [131]. Catchwords: COSTS – where plaintiffs and defendants had varying success at trial – whether indemnity costs should be awarded – where Calderbank offers made – whether offeror demonstrated it was unreasonable for offeree not to accept offer – where offers of compromise were made – whether Court should otherwise order (UCPR r 42.15A) – whether a Bullock or Sanderson order should be made – whether there should be a carve-out of particular costs Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bostik Australia Pty Ltd v Liddiard (No. 2) [2009] NSWCA 304 Brookfield Multiplex Ltd v Owners – Strata Plan No 61288 (2014) 254 CLR 185 Bryan v Maloney (1995) 182 CLR 609 Bullock v London General Omnibus Co [1907] 1 KB 264 Calderbank v Calderbank [1976] Fam 93 Council of the City of Liverpool v Turano (No. 2) [2009] NSWCA 176 Currabubula v State Bank NSW [2000] NSWSC 232 Gould v Vaggelas (1985) 157 CLR 215 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534 Magenta Nominees Pty Ltd v Richard Ellis (Western Australia) Pty Ltd (Full Federal Court, 29 August 1995, unrep) Sanderson v Blyth Theatre Co [1903] 2 KB 533 Sved v Council of the Municipality of Woollahra (1998) NSW Conv R ¶ 55-842 Category: Costs Parties: Rebecca Chan (First Plaintiff) Warren Cox (Second Plaintiff) Robert Acres (First Defendant) Alpha Building Services Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Mitchell Howes Civil & Structural Engineers Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Ku-ring-gai Council (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Castle / M J Davis (Plaintiffs) M R Elliott (Third Defendant) P J Bambagiotti (Fourth Defendant)