FAZARRI & HSIAO

In the matter of *Fazzari & Hsiao*, heard before Cronin J, the dispute concerned applications for litigation funding and spousal maintenance. The wife sought significant funding to meet her costs of proceedings, while also seeking spousal maintenance. The husband opposed the full extent of the wife's funding application.

The court was required to determine whether to grant the wife's application for litigation funding, and if so, to what extent, considering the contentious issues surrounding the duration of the relationship, the calculation of the wife's property entitlement, and the potential impact of spousal maintenance considerations. Additionally, the court had to address the wife's application for spousal maintenance, which was contingent on her compliance with discovery orders.

Cronin J reasoned that while some litigation funding was necessary to ensure the wife could properly participate in the proceedings, the full amount sought for trial expenditure was not justified at that stage. The judge considered the wife's financial position and the need for her to meet her costs as they arose. Regarding spousal maintenance, the application was adjourned due to the wife's non-compliance with outstanding discovery orders.

The court ordered that the husband pay $80,000 to the wife's solicitors by 28 February 2018, to be held for the wife's litigation costs. The remainder of the wife's interim orders sought in her amended response were dismissed.