Mendonca v Tonna (No 3)

[2020] NSWCA 332

Court of Appeal

Supreme Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation:

Mendonca v Tonna (No 3) [2020] NSWCA 332

Hearing dates:

On the papers

Date of orders:

16 December 2020

Decision date:

16 December 2020

Before:

Bell P;
Meagher JA;
Payne JA.

Decision:

(1)   Vary order 3 made on 26 August 2020 as follows:

Appellant pay respondents’ costs of the appeal to be assessed:

(i)    Up to and including 22 May 2020 on the ordinary basis; and

(ii)   From 23 May 2020 on an indemnity basis.

(2)   Dismiss Dr Mendonca’s amended notice of motion filed 4 September 2020.

(3)   Dr Mendonca pay the respondents’ costs of that amended notice of motion.

(4)   Dr Mendonca pay the respondents’ costs of their notice of motion filed 3 September 2020.

Catchwords:

CIVIL PROCEDURE – application to reopen judgment dismissing appeal – where application relies in part on “further” evidence not led at trial or on appeal – no issue of principle

COSTS – ordinary or indemnity – offer of compromise – result less favourable to offeree – whether rejection of offer unreasonable – no issue of principle

Legislation Cited:

Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A(7), (8)

Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 36.15, 36.16, 42.14, 51.47. 51.48

Cases Cited:

Akins v National Australia Bank (1994) 34 NSWLR 155

Autodesk Inc v Dyason (No 2) (1993) 176 CLR 300; [1993] HCA 6

Bobolas v Waverley Council [2014] NSWCA 131

Croghan v Blacktown City Council (2019) 100 NSWLR 757; [2019] NSWCA 248

House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40

Majak v Rose (No 5) [2017] NSWCA 238

Mega-Top Cargo Pty Ltd v Moneytech Services Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 3

Mendonca v Tonna [2020] HCASL 240

Mendonca v Tonna [2020] NSWCA 196

Mendonca v Tonna [2020] NSWCA 224

Searle v Commonwealth (2019) 100 NSWLR 55; [2019] NSWCA 127

Category:

Procedural and other rulings

Parties:

Renuka Mendonca (applicant)
Mark Tonna (first respondent)
Lorraine Tonna (second respondent)

Representation:

Counsel:
Applicant (self-represented)
P Newton and J Gatland (respondents)

Solicitors:
Applicant (self-represented)
Adams & Partners (respondents)

File Number(s):

2020/13642

Publication restriction:

N/A

 Decision under appeal 

Court or tribunal:

Supreme Court of New South Wales

Jurisdiction:

Equity Division

Citation:

[2019] NSWSC 1849; [2020] NSWSC 306

Date of Decision:

20 December 2019; 25 March 2020

Before:

Ward CJ in Eq

File Number(s):

2016/182075; 2017/292576

Judgment

1. THE COURT: On 26 August 2020 this Court dismissed Dr Mendonca’s appeal from orders of Ward CJ in Eq declaring that she held the legal title to a property at Galston on a resulting trust for herself and Mr and Mrs Tonna in proportions reflecting their respective contributions to the purchase of that property. The Court also upheld her Honour’s rejection of Dr Mendonca’s claims that Mr and Mrs Tonna had occupied the Galston property from the time of its purchase under a residential tenancy agreement and that they had breached that agreement (Mendonca v Tonna [2020] NSWCA 196).

2. On 2 September 2020, Dr…