Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd v Papantoniou

variation of the costs order within 7 days by lodging with my Chambers written submissions, not exceeding two pages in length, supported by an affidavit exhibiting any offer of compromise made. The cross-defendant has a further 7 days to lodge any written response not exceeding 2 pages in length. Catchwords: PROCEDURE - civil - rectification of orders - slip rule REMEDIES - damages - calculation of pre-judgment interest Legislation Cited: Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Category: Consequential orders Parties: Robert Joseph Patrick Brown (First Cross-Claimant) Robert Joseph Patrick Brown as executor of the Estate of the late James Anthony Thomas Brown (Third Cross-Claimant) Styliani Papantoniou (First Cross-Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Maconachie (First and Third Cross-Claimants) J Merkel (First Cross-Defendant) Solicitors: Barwick Boitano Lawyers (First and Third Cross-Claimant) Northern Suburbs Lawyers (First Cross-Defendant) File Number(s): 2010/28341

Judgment 1I pronounced orders in this matter disposing of outstanding cross-claims on 30th of May 2014 ([2014] NSWSC 685). 2Upon reviewing my reasons I noted that I had overlooked deducting the sum of $4,000 referred to [141] of my judgment as part of the calculation set out at [144]. It seemed obvious that this oversight should be corrected under Rule 36.7 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) (the Slip Rule). 3Accordingly, I listed the matter for directions on Thursday 5th June 2014 when the parties where represented as before by Mr Maconachie of Counsel for Robert Brown and the Estate of James Brown, and Ms Merkel of Counsel for Mrs Papantoniou. 4Counsel agreed that the correction should be made and I will attend to it below. 5As it was necessary to bring Counsel back, I thought it expedient to deal with the question of interest, which I decided but did not calculate at [145]. To that end, I sent Counsel a working paper recalculating the amounts to which Robert Brown and the Estate of James Brown were entitled, calculating interest on those amounts, and showing the total amounts due in each case. Mr Maconachie points out, very fairly, that my interest rate is 2% higher than the rate fixed by Practice Note SC Gen 16. Ms Merkel agrees. I accept this and have rectified that error accordingly. 6It was also submitted that in dividing the interest payable between the Estate of the late James Brown and Robert Brown I had made an arithmetical error. This is not so. Rather Counsel have overlooked the need to deduct $4,000 from the share of James Brown's Estate to correct my slip. This alters the strict 58:42 apportionment. My final calculations appended. Otherwise Counsel were in agreement that my orders should be amended to reflect the correction of the slip and the incorporation of interest. 7Three other matters were raised with me by Counsel. First, I was reminded that the "surplus notionally due to Mrs Papantoniou" after discharge of the total debt due to the plaintiff as mortgagee referred to at [79] and [147] - [148] of my judgment which had been held initially on trust by the plaintiff's solicitors, Norton Rose, had been transferred to the solicitors acting for Robert Brown and the Estate of the Late James Brown, Barwick Boitano Lawyers to hold on trust prior to the hearing before me. Moreover, during the long time I took for consideration of my decision, that fund had been depleted partially by the payment from it of an interlocutory costs order due from Mrs Papantoniou to the Brown interests. This had been assessed in the interim. Counsel also inform me that the current balance is $51,159.09. 8As there will be significant changes to the orders pronounced by me in each of the three cross claims on 30th May 2014, I am of the view that it is expedient to simply revoke the orders previously pronounced and make new orders reflecting the changes necessitated by the circumstances I have just outlined. 9Secondly, Mr Maconachie sought an express reservation of liberty for his clients to apply for the release of the trust fund to them should Mrs Papantoniou fail to satisfy the judgements for compensation in their favour within 28 days. I did not understand Ms Merkel to argue that some such order was not appropriate and I will accordingly accede to Mr Maconachie's application. 10Thirdly, I am informed that an offer of compromise was made and that the Brown parties may wish to apply for an order for indemnity costs. I will permit any such application to be made by written submissions lodged with my Chambers with an opportunity for Mrs Papantoniou to reply. I have included the working paper forwarded to Counsel as an appendix. 11It seems to me appropriate that the sum of $4,000 in respect of the additional legal fees for the Estate of James Brown be deducted from the Estate's share of the compensation I have assessed before the addition of interest. That will reduce the figure of $109,642.26 mentioned at [144] of my judgment to $105,642.26. The latter figure is the figure upon which interest has been calculated.