EAKINS & EAKINS

In *Eakins & Eakins*, Harman J of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia was required to determine the final orders in a property settlement dispute between a husband and wife. The primary issue before the court was the allocation of costs incurred by the wife in the proceedings.

The court was tasked with deciding whether the husband should be ordered to pay the wife's costs, and if so, in what amount. This involved considering the conduct of the parties during the litigation and whether any party had acted unreasonably, thereby justifying an order for costs against them.

Harman J ordered the husband to pay the wife's assessed costs in the sum of $24,891.72 within 42 days. This order indicates that the court found grounds to depart from the usual rule that parties bear their own costs, likely due to the husband's conduct during the proceedings. The court also directed that all other issues be removed from the list of cases awaiting hearing, signifying the finality of this decision in relation to the costs aspect of the dispute.