Golla and Rau (No 2)

In *Golla and Rau (No 2)*, Cronin J of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia considered an application by the husband for an adjournment of proceedings and the wife's application for costs. The dispute concerned the division of property and related financial matters.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the husband had established sufficient grounds to warrant an adjournment of the proceedings, and consequently, the wife's entitlement to costs incurred as a result of the husband's actions. The court was required to assess the reasonableness of the husband's request for an adjournment in light of the circumstances and the potential prejudice to the wife.

Cronin J reasoned that the husband had not provided adequate justification for his request for an adjournment, particularly in relation to the late disclosure of further material to a medical expert. The court found that the husband's conduct had caused the wife to incur costs unnecessarily, including the costs of further attendances and reports by Dr A, which were necessitated by the husband's actions. The principles of fairness and the efficient conduct of litigation guided the court's decision.

The court ordered the husband to pay the wife the sum of $4735 for costs thrown away, and further ordered him to pay the costs of any further attendances and reports by Dr A if the expert deemed further work necessary due to the new material. The husband was directed to pay the $4735 by 4 pm on 11 September.