Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Smith [No.2]

The Court of Appeal of New South Wales considered an application by Mr. Smith to revisit a prior judgment concerning costs. The dispute involved Mr. Smith and Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd, with the court being asked to determine the appropriate orders regarding costs.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether it should reconsider its previous decision on costs, particularly in light of a letter exchanged between the solicitors for AMP General Insurance Limited and HIH Workers’ Compensation (NSW) Pty Ltd. The court was required to determine the scope and implications of this correspondence for the final cost orders.

The court refused Mr. Smith's application to revisit the judgment. It directed that either party could file further applications concerning costs within 14 days, limited to issues discussed in a specific letter dated 15 May 2000. This letter concerned matters between AMP General Insurance Limited and HIH Workers’ Compensation (NSW) Pty Ltd. If such an application were made, AMP General Insurance Limited and its solicitors would have a further 14 days to file any replying material.