Federal Court of Australia ... Mark Latham MLC ordered to pay rival MP Alex Greenwich's costs on ordinary basis ... No cause for apportionment ... Greenwich's bid for indemnity costs fails ... Offer in concerns notice broad and encompassed publication not found defamatory ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Category: Costs
Alex Greenwich v Mark Latham
Federal Court of Australia ... Costs hearing in dispute between NSW MPs Alex Greenwich and Mark Latham ... Senior counsel for Latham submits Latham liable for a quarter of Greenwich's costs after succeeding on three of four imputations ... Senior counsel for Greenwich says claim is misconceived ... Dispute over indemnity costs ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Lehrmann v Network Ten Pty Limited (Reference Costs)
Federal Court of Australia ... Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson to each bear their own costs of referral of costs dispute to referee ... Justice Michael Lee said hard to see a clearer case for parties to bear own costs ... Offers of compromise ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
William Thurston & Ors v Fox Sports Australia Pty Ltd & Ors
Federal Court of Australia ... Case management hearing over costs in NRL fans' action against broadcasters ... Mixed results for applicants ... "Terribly tragic case" ... Referred to mediation ahead of further hearing ... Costs "impressionistic and evaluative" ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Edwards v Nine Network Australia Pty Limited (No 7)
Federal Court of Australia ... High profile firm Giles/George succeeds with application to have costs from celebrity cavoodle case paid into the court pending determination of solicitor's equitable lien claim ... Follows falling out between victorious client and solicitors ... Arguable case for lien ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Bruce Lehrmann v Network Ten Pty Limited & Anor (Costs)
Federal Court of Australia ... Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson reach agreement on costs ... Wilkinson to be paid $1.15 million in total ... Followed dispute over referee's report concerning hourly rates for solicitors and duplication of work ... Orders made dismissing hearing ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Bruce Lehrmann v Network Ten Pty Limited & Anor (Costs)
Federal Court ... Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson separately take issue with findings of referee on costs ... Dispute over reasonable rates for Wilkinson's solicitors ... Disputes over what was reasonably necessary in terms of work by respective legal team ... Network Ten takes issue with work said to duplicate its own efforts or otherwise not necessary ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Alex Greenwich v Mark Latham
Federal Court ... NSW MLC Mark Latham resists injunctions over defamatory tweet on implied freedom of political communication grounds ... Sydney MP Alex Greenwich believes injunction narrowly confined and would not impede Latham from fair comment ... Argument on costs held off over issue of affidavits on costs agreement and crowdfunding ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Bruce Lehrmann v Network Ten & Anor
Federal Court ... Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson at loggerheads over referee's report on costs ... Dispute over extent of costs and whether work was reasonably necessary ... Senior counsel for Wilkinson wants quantification of costs by referee ... Justice Lee not impressed matter was not ready for determination ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Wellington v Metcalf
Supreme Court of Victoria ... Successful plaintiff ruled to have waived privilege over file produced without compulsion for taxation of costs ... Costs Court has jurisdiction to hear issues of waiver and privilege ... Does not have jurisdiction to determine issues concerning the implied undertaking ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Courtney v Maguire (Costs ruling)
County Court of Victoria ... Retired businessman awarded standard costs after award of $125,000 in aggravated damages over brumby posts on Facebook ... Both sides sought indemnity costs ... No special circumstances on either side ... Indemnity costs for costs thrown away by vacation of trial date ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Metcalf v Wellington
Court of Appeal (Victoria) ... Ratepayer refused stay on hearing for taxation of costs ... Followed award of $100,000 in damages to local councillor ... No special circumstances warranting stay ... Councillor entitled to fruits of indemnity costs ... Undertaking to keep costs in trust account pending any appeal ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more