Security for costs at centre of three actions ... County Court of Victoria - Shading company ordered to pay $50,000 security in injurious falsehood claim ... Federal Court - Discovery dispute and possible application for costs headed for registrar ... Federal Court - Cambodian PM's nephew ordered to pay $80,000 in security ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Category: Costs
Scott v Bodley (No 3)
NSW District Court ... Partial indemnity costs awarded against house painter who failed to establish serious harm ... Judge Gibson considers Federal Court's position on section 40 of the Defamation Act ... "Blow to concepts of uniformity" ... Impact of costs contrary to excitement and allure of media reports ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Hoser v Herald and Weekly Times Pty Ltd & Anor (Ruling as to Costs)
County Court of Victoria ... Snake catcher Raymond Hoser to pay costs of Herald and Weekly Times and crime reporter on indemnity basis ... Two offers to settle were made ... Second offer offered an article and $10,000 to settle ... Unreasonable to reject offer ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Burston v Hanson (No 2)
Federal Court ... Pauline Hanson to pay costs of former colleague Brian Burston on party/party basis ... No reason to depart from ordinary rule of costs following event ... No grounds to find disentitling conduct ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Brian Burston v Pauline Hanson
Federal Court ... Former senator Brian Burston's win against Pauline Hanson a "pyrrhic victory", court told ... Hanson seeks orders requiring parties to bear own costs ... Burston's counsel argues revisionism, and that costs should follow the event ... Should "not give a runner up prize for Ms Hanson" ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Shane Bazzi v Peter Dutton
Federal Court ... Full Court adjourns costs hearing in Bazzi v Dutton ... Comes after late night affidavit revises bill ... Guy Reynolds SC raises "theoretically" the possibility of "sham bills" ... Barry Dean, counsel for Bazzi, rejects possibility of windfall for his client ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Palmer v McGowan (No. 6)
Federal Court ... WA Premier has a partial win on costs in defamation action with Clive Palmer ... Offer made ahead of trial to settle on walk away basis ... Asymmetry of responsibility ... Political jousting went too far ... Only one prepared to step back ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Dyer v Chrysanthou & Anor
Costs of $430,200 ordered against Christian Porter and Sue Chrysanthou SC ... Costs arising from action by Jo Dyer to restrain Chrysanthou from acting for Porter ... Porter and Chrysanthou sought to halve costs ... Discount for senior counsel's costs ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Peter Dutton v Shane Bazzi
Federal Court ... Argument over costs in Dutton v Bazzi ... Dutton seeks indemnity costs over offers ... Bazzi seeks reduction in costs for incomplete success and application of Rule 40.08 ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Christian Porter v Australian Broadcasting Corporation & Anor
Former Attorney-General Christian Porter tells Parliament blind trust has partially funded his legal costs in ABC defamation action ... Not aware of conduct or funding of trust ... Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus claims lack of knowledge of donors an "outrageous abuse" ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Herron v HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Ltd (No. 4)
Federal Court ... Justice Jagot rejects bid for indemnity costs ... Applicants' case not bound to fail ... Vicissitudes of litigation ... Inference bid for indemnity costs followed comprehensive victory ... Lump sum costs order with set-off ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Jo Dyer v Sue Chrysanthou & Anor
Federal Court ... Former Attorney-General, high-profile silk face $550,000 in opponent's costs ... Follows successful action by Jo Dyer to restrain Sue Chrysanthou SC from acting for Christian Porter ... Costs ordered against Porter and Chrysanthou ... Dispute over lump sum costs procedure ... Chrysanthou and Porter seek timesheets and invoices ... Asymmetry of information ... Justice Thawley orders production ... Referred to registrar for mediation or determination ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more