Midland Metals Overseas v Australian Cablemakers Association (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 1128

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Midland Metals Overseas v Australian Cablemakers Association (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 1128 Hearing dates: On the papers Date of orders: 20 July 2018 Decision date: 20 July 2018 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: McDougall J Decision: Order that costs be assessed on the ordinary basis up until 23 November 2017 and on the indemnity basis thereafter. Catchwords: COSTS – application for costs on the indemnity basis – where two Calderbank letters were sent – whether letters involved a real and genuine compromise – where plaintiff replied "NUTS!" to first offer – whether affirmative or negative response – whether appropriate to use historical analogy – in any event first letter did not offer a real element of compromise – where second letter offered a substantial proportion of the success plaintiff was seeking – unreasonable for plaintiff to reject second offer – indemnity costs ordered from date of rejection. Legislation Cited: Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Alexander v Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (No 3) [2010] FCA 506 Calderbank v Calderbank [1976] Fam 93 Midland Metals Overseas v Australian Cablemakers Association [2018] NSWSC 938 Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantan Properties Pte Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 344 Szencorp Pty Ltd v Clean Energy Council [2009] FCA 196 Tati v Stonewall Hotel Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 124 Texts Cited: S. L. A. Marshall, Bastogne: The First Eight Days (Infantry Journal Press, 1946) Category: Costs Parties: Midland Metals Overseas Pte Limited (Plaintiff) Australian Cablemakers Association Limited (First Defendant) Frederick Persson (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: BA Coles QC / PB Walsh (Plaintiff) MA Izzo / J Granger (Defendants)