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[2014] NSWSC 738
Supreme Court of NSW
2014-02-13
Hall J, Harrison J
Original judgment source is linked above.
INTRODUCTION 1The plaintiffs, Aleksandra Gacic, Ljiljana Gacic and Branislav Ciric, claimed damages from the defendant in respect of publication of a restaurant review on 30 September 2003. Following an appeal to the Court of Appeal (Gacic v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 362), orders were made remitting the proceedings for an assessment of damages. Following a hearing on damages, I delivered judgment on 19 December 2013: Gacic v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1920. 2Judgment was entered in favour of each of the plaintiffs in the amount of $160,000. I reserved the question of costs. 3On 13 February 2014, counsel addressed on two issues, pre-judgment interest and costs. 4I have had the benefit of primary written submissions dated 12 February 2014 from Mr Evatt and Mr Rasmussen of counsel who appeared for the plaintiffs, and from Mr Blackburn SC with Mr Sibtain of counsel on behalf of the defendants together with the oral submissions on behalf of the parties. 5Further written submissions on behalf of the plaintiff dated 21 February 2014 were received as well as the further written submissions dated 25 February 2014 on behalf of the defendants.
The Claim for Pre-Judgment Interest 50I am required to consider four issues affecting the awarding of interest on damages awarded to the plaintiffs. (i) The period over which pre-judgment interest should be awarded, that is, either: (a) the period from publication on 30 September 2003 to the date of judgment delivered on 19 December 2013; or (b) from the date of publication on 30 September 2003 to the date of the judgment delivered by Harrison J on 18 December 2009, with post-judgment interest to run until the date of payment of the damages. (ii) The rate of pre-judgment interest, that is whether interest should be awarded at 4% per annum as claimed by the plaintiffs, or on the basis of 1% per annum and 2% per annum as claimed in respect of different periods as contended for by the defendants or at some other rate. (iii) Whether my judgment should be "backdated". (iv) Whether costs awarded to the plaintiffs should be on an indemnity basis.
Aleksandra Gacic (1) Verdict for the plaintiff, Aleksandra Gacic, against the defendants in the amount of $160,000. (2) Order pre-judgment interest on the amount of $160,000 referred to in (1) at a rate of 3% per annum calculated from 30 September 2003 to 19 December 2013 as set out in the Schedule hereto in the amount of $47,842.19. (3) Judgment for the plaintiff, Aleksandra Gacic, against the defendants in relation to the amounts referred to in (1) and (2), namely $207,842.19. (4) The defendants to pay the Aleksandra Gacic's costs of and incidental to the proceedings remitted by the Court of Appeal in respect of which judgment was delivered on 19 December 2013 on an indemnity basis.
Ljiljana Gacic (1) Verdict for the plaintiff, Ljiljana Gacic, against the defendants in the amount of $160,000. (2) Order pre-judgment interest on the amount of $160,000 referred to in (1) at a rate of 3% per annum calculated from 30 September 2003 to 19 December 2013 as set out in the Schedule hereto in the amount of $47,842.19. (3) Judgment for the plaintiff, Ljiljana Gacic, against the defendants in relation to the amounts referred to in (1) and (2), namely $207,842.19. (4) The defendants to pay the Ljiljana Gacic's costs of and incidental to the proceedings remitted by the Court of Appeal in respect of which judgment was delivered on 19 December 2013 on an indemnity basis.
Branislav Ciric (1) Verdict for the plaintiff, Branislav Ciric, against the defendants in the amount of $160,000. (2) Order pre-judgment interest on the amount of $160,000 referred to in (1) at a rate of 3% per annum calculated from 30 September 2003 to 19 December 2013 as set out in the Schedule hereto in the amount of $47,842.19. (3) Judgment for the plaintiff, Branislav Ciric, against the defendants in relation to the amounts referred to in (1) and (2), namely $207,842.19. (4) The defendants to pay the Branislav Ciric's costs of and incidental to the proceedings remitted by the Court of Appeal in respect of which judgment was delivered on 19 December 2013 on an indemnity basis.
SCHEDULE Date from Date to Base Days in Period Rate per annum Rate per day Interest accrued 30/09/2003 31/12/2003 $160,000.00 93 3.00% $13.15 $1,223.01 1/01/2004 31/12/2004 $160,000.00 366 3.00% $13.11 $4,800.00 1/01/2005 31/12/2005 $160,000.00 365 3.00% $13.15 $4,800.00 1/01/2006 31/12/2006 $160,000.00 365 3.00% $13.15 $4,800.00 1/01/2007 31/12/2007 $160,000.00 365 3.00% $13.15 $4,800.00 1/01/2008 31/12/2008 $160,000.00 366 3.00% $13.11 $4,800.00 1/01/2009 31/12/2009 $160,000.00 365 3.00% $13.15 $4,800.00 1/01/2010 31/12/2010 $160,000.00 365 3.00% $13.15 $4,800.00 1/01/2011 31/12/2011 $160,000.00 365 3.00% $13.15 $4,800.00 1/01/2012 31/12/2012 $160,000.00 366 3.00% $13.11 $4,800.00 1/01/2013 19/12/2013 $160,000.00 353 3.00% $13.15 $4,642.19
DISCLAIMER - Every effort has been made to comply with suppression orders or statutory provisions prohibiting publication that may apply to this judgment or decision. The onus remains on any person using material in the judgment or decision to ensure that the intended use of that material does not breach any such order or provision. Further enquiries may be directed to the Registry of the Court or Tribunal in which it was generated. Decision last updated: 06 June 2014
Gacic
John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd
[2012] SASCFC 106
(1987) 8 NSWLR 131
(1991) 171 CLR 657
(1994) 35 NSWLR 308
(1988) 165 CLR 306