Sarina v O’Shannassy [2019] NSWDC 246

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Sarina v O'Shannassy [2019] NSWDC 246 Hearing dates: 9 May 2019 Date of orders: 12 June 2019 Decision date: 12 June 2019 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs of the discontinuance under UCPR r 12.1 and of these proceedings on an indemnity basis. Catchwords: COSTS – plaintiff commences proceedings in Federal Circuit Court for defamation for two emails published in New South Wales – defendant (the respondent in those proceedings) challenges the jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit Court – while awaiting the reserved decision of the Federal Circuit Court judge the plaintiff commences proceedings for one of those publications in the District Court - service of the defendant delayed for two months – application of extension of time for service - defendant, when served, foreshadows staying these proceedings as an abuse of process – hearing of application adjourned as Federal Circuit Court determines that it does have jurisdiction to hear the defamation claims – plaintiff seeks leave to discontinue these proceedings with costs – defendant seeks an order that the costs be payable on an indemnity costs basis – indemnity costs order made Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 67 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2, Australian Consumer Law, ss 18 and 50 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 447A and 1324 Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), s 23 Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999 (Cth), s 18 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (NSW) Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (Cth), s 5 Local Act 2007 (NSW), s 33 Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 6.2, 10.1, 12.1 and 12.11 Cases Cited: Alex v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2015] NSWDC 78 Australian Hardboards Limited v Hudson Investment Group Limited [2007] NSWCA 104 Burbank Australia Pty Ltd v Luzinat & Ors [2000] VSC 128 Dale v Veda Advantage Information Services and Solution Limited [2009] FCA 305 Fordyce v Fordham (2006) 67 NSWLR 497 Frigger v Banning (No 3) [2017] FCA 221 Ghosh v Ninemsn Pty Ltd & Ors [2013] NSWDC 63 Goodall v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No. 2) [2007] FMCA 1427 Hunter v Hanson [2014] NSWCA 263 John Bridgeman Limited v Dreamscape Networks FZ-LLC [2018] FCA 1279 Kostov v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2018] NSWSC 1289 Maple v David Syme & Co Ltd [1975] 1 NSWLR 97 Merrett v Marinakos & Anor [2019] FCCA 541 Nandutu v University of Sydney [2018] FCA 1118 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 Packer v Meagher [1984] 3 NSWLR 486 R v Fischetti [No 5] [2016] ACTSC 213 Sarina v Fairfax Digital Australia and New Zealand Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 196 Sarina v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 190 Sarina & Anor v O'Shannassy [2019] FCCA 732 Tahi v Oxican Pty Ltd [2018] FCCA 3722 Texts Cited: P. Taylor SC, Justice G. Bellew, M. Meek SC, Dr E. Elms OAM, Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure New South Wales (LexisNexis, Australia) Category: Costs Parties: Plaintiff: Clinton Sarina Defendant: John O'Shannassy Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: Mr T Crispin Defendant: Mr S Maxwell (solicitor)