Zoef v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No 2) [2017] NSWCA 2

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Zoef v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No 2) [2017] NSWCA 2 Hearing dates: On the papers Date of orders: 27 January 2017 Decision date: 27 January 2017 Before: Ward JA at [1] Gleeson JA at [2] Payne JA at [81] Decision: (1) In addition to the orders made by this Court on 18 October 2016, the Court makes the following further order: "(4) The judgment in order 2(a) shall take effect on 16 October 2015". (2) Vary order 2(b) made by this Court on 18 October 2016 by deleting the word "ordinary" and inserting the word "indemnity" so that the order reads: "Defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings on an indemnity basis." (3) Otherwise dismiss Mr Zoef's notice of motion filed 4 November 2016. (4) The respondent to pay 80% of Mr Zoef's costs of the notice of motion. Catchwords: PRODEDURE - application for variation of orders made on appeal – where appeal court awarded damages contingently assessed by trial judge – back-dating of judgment – pre-judgment interest – indemnity costs – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 36.16(3A) and (3C) – where notice of motion out of time – delay caused by oversight in solicitor's office – whether power to dispense with the requirements of the rules – Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 14 – limited exceptions to finality of judgments – slip rule – UCPR r 36.17 – back-dating of judgment – UCPR r 36.4(3) – interests of justice

DEFAMATION – Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) s 40 – indemnity costs sought by plaintiff – defamation proceedings successful on appeal – where defendant's offers of amends not reasonable at time they were made – whether failure to make settlement offer unreasonable – whether s 40 applies to an appeal Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 14, 100, 101 Defamation Act 1974 (NSW), s 48A Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) ss 18, 40, 48A Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Pt 40 r 3 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 1.12, 36.4,36.11, 36.16, 36.17 Cases Cited: Bailey v Marinoff (1971) 125 CLR 529; [1971] HCA 49 Bartlett v Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (No 2) [2016] NSWCA 142 Bennette v Cohen (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 162 Borthwick v Elderslie Steamship Co (No 2) [1905] 2 KB 516 Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd v Mahommed (No 2) (2011) 80 NSWLR 210; [2011] NSWCA 6 Davis v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 946 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Meredith (No 2) (2008) 75 NSWLR 462; [2008] NSWCA 133 Elyard Corporation Pty Ltd v DDB Needham Sydney Pty Ltd (1995) 61 FCR 385 Gacic v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 99 George Jamoo v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 126 GIO of NSW v Healey (No 2) (1991) 22 NSWLR 380; [1991] NSWCA 103 Haertsch v Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 182 Hancock v Arnold; Dodd v Arnold (No. 2) [2009] NSWCA 19 Holt v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (No 2) (2013) 82 NSWLR 293; [2012] NSWSC 968 Jeffrey & Katauskas Pty Ltd v SST Consulting Pty Ltd (2009) 239 CLR 75; [2009] HCA 43 Harmer v Hare (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 58 Malouf v Prince (No 2) [2010] NSWCA 51 McKensey v Hewitt (2004) 61 NSWLR 54; [2004] NSWSC 636 Najdovski v Crnojlovic (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 281 Nicol v Allyacht Spars Pty Ltd (1988) 165 CLR 306; [1988] HCA 48 Raybos Australia Pty Ltd v Tectran Corporation Ltd (1988) 77 ALR 190 Roberts v Prendergast [2013] QCA 89 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Palmer (No 2) [2005] NSWCA 140 Trkulja v Yahoo! Inc LLC (No 2) [2012] VSC 217 Zoef v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 283 Category: Consequential orders (other than Costs) Parties: Atanas (Tony) Zoef (Appellant) Nationwide News Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C A Evatt/ R Rasmussen/ I Kirgiz (Appellant) D R Sibtain/ L Barnett (Respondent)