Hepburn v Beauty Services Holdings Pty Ltd & Ors

In the matter of *Hepburn v Beauty Services Holdings Pty Ltd & Ors*, heard in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia before Judge Vasta, the applicant sought to discontinue proceedings against the respondents. The dispute concerned an application brought by the applicant, the details of which are not specified in the provided text, which was subsequently discontinued by the applicant.

The primary legal issue before the court was the appropriate basis upon which the costs of the application should be awarded, following the applicant's discontinuance. Specifically, the court was required to determine whether costs should be awarded on a party and party basis or on an indemnity basis, and to consider the period to which those costs should relate.

Judge Vasta ordered that the applicant pay the respondents' costs of and incidental to the application on an indemnity basis from the date the respondents became aware of the application until its discontinuance on 9 February 2018. In addition, the court ordered that the applicant pay costs on a party and party basis, to be assessed under Schedule 1 of the *Federal Circuit Court Rules 2001* (Cth), in relation to the application for costs itself.