PM Works Pty Ltd v Management Services Australia Pty Ltd trading as Peak Performance PM [2018] NSWCA 168

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: PM Works Pty Ltd v Management Services Australia Pty Ltd trading as Peak Performance PM [2018] NSWCA 168 Hearing dates: 24 July 2018 Decision date: 03 August 2018 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Basten JA at [2]; Leeming JA at [3] Decision: 1. To the extent that leave be necessary, grant leave to appeal.

2. Direct the applicants to file a notice of appeal in the terms of the draft notice of appeal in the White Book, and otherwise dispense with the requirements of service.

3. Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: COSTS – non-party costs order – sole director and shareholder caused plaintiff company to commence and maintain litigation – proceedings were dismissed with costs – primary judge refused application for non-party costs order – relevance of personal animosity on part of director to defendant – whether necessary to establish unreasonableness – whether exceptional circumstances established – leave granted but appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 98 New York Field Code 1848 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101(2)(c) Supreme Court Rules 1970, Pt 52 r 4(2), Pt 52A r 4(2) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 42.3 United States Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, r 17(a) Cases Cited: Aiden Shipping Co Ltd v Interbulk Ltd [1986] AC 965 Arena Management Pty Ltd (Receivers and Manager Appointed) v Campbell Street Theatre Pty Ltd (2011) 80 NSWLR 652; [2011] NSWCA 128 Bob Jane Corporation Pty Ltd v Barrot FT Pty Ltd (No 2) (2012) 113 SASR 25; [2012] SASC 89 Dymocks Franchise Systems (NSW) Pty Ltd v Todd [2004] 1 WLR 2807; [2004] UKPC 39 FPM Constructions v Council of the City of Blue Mountains [2005] NSWCA 340 Gdanski v Palms Court Management Pty Ltd [2017] VSCA 348 Heath v Greenacre Business Park Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 34 Jeffery & Katauskas Pty Ltd v SST Consulting Pty Ltd (2009) 239 CLR 75; [2009] HCA 43 Knight v FP Special Assets Ltd (1992) 174 CLR 178 Macedonian Orthodox Community Church St Petka Inc v His Eminence Petar (2008) 237 CLR 66; [2008] HCA 42 Management Services Australia Pty Ltd v PMWorks Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1743 Management Services Australia Pty Ltd v PMWorks Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 336 May v Christodoulou (2011) 80 NSWLR 462; [2011] NSWCA 75 Mobbs v Vandenbrande and Wife, Late Youens Executrix of Price (1864) 4 B & S 904; 122 ER 698 Newell; Muriniti v De Costi [2018] NSWCA 49 Owners of the Ship "Shin Kobe Maru" v Empire Shipping Co Inc (1994) 181 CLR 404; [1994] HCA 54 Park Trent Properties Group Pty Ltd v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2016] NSWCA 298; 116 ACSR 473 Selig v Wealthsure Pty Ltd (2015) 255 CLR 661; [2015] HCA 18 Snowside Pty Ltd as trustee for the Snowside Trust v Boart Longyear Ltd [2018] NSWCA 75 TGA Chapman Ltd v Christopher [1998] 1 WLR 12; [1998] 2 All ER 873 Wentworth v Wentworth (2001) 52 NSWLR 602; [2000] NSWCA 350 Yu v Cao (2015) 91 NSWLR 190; [2015] NSWCA 276 Texts Cited: G Dal Pont, Law of Costs (3rd ed, LexisNexis, 2013) W Holdsworth, History of English Law (vol 7, Methuen, 1952) Category: Principal judgment Parties: PMWorks Pty Ltd (First applicant) Amit Banerji (Second applicant) Management Services Australia Pty Ltd trading as Peak Performance PM (First respondent) Paul Finnerty (Second respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Cairns and L Hulmes (Applicants) F Assaf and P Strickland (Respondents)