Abbatangelo v Aleckson
[2019] NSWDC 430
At a glance
Source factsCourt
District Court of NSW
Decision date
2019-08-15
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Judgment (8 paragraphs)
Solicitors: Hall & Wilcox (Defendant) Slater & Gordon (Respondent to Motion) File Number(s): 2015/240507
Introduction
- By a Notice of Motion filed on 27 February 2018 the defendant seeks an order that its costs of the mentions in the proceedings on 21 and 23 February 2018, and its costs thrown away by the vacation of the hearing scheduled for 26 February 2018 (with an estimate of five days) be paid by Mr Donald Stuart Cameron, solicitor. Mr Cameron is the former solicitor for the plaintiff.
- The motion seeks the order pursuant to s 99 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW). Sub-section (1) provides: "This section applies if it appears to the court that costs have been incurred: (a) by the serious neglect, serious incompetence or serious misconduct of a legal practitioner, or (b) improperly, or without reasonable cause, in circumstances for which a legal practitioner is responsible."
- Sub-section (2) provides: "After giving the legal practitioner a reasonable opportunity to be heard, the court may do any one or more of the following: (a) … (b) … (c) it may, by order, direct the legal practitioner to indemnify any party (other than the client) against costs payable by that party."
- The motion not only seeks an order under s 99, but also seeks orders that Mr Cameron pay the defendant's costs of the motion, that costs be paid on an indemnity basis, and that there be a specified gross sum costs order, pursuant to s 98 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005.