Moyle v Sutherland Shire Council

Case [2008] NSWLEC 41



Land and Environment Court


of New South Wales


CITATION: Buchanan; Kapanke; Moyle v Sutherland Shire Council [2008] NSWLEC 41
PARTIES:

30290 of 2005
APPLICANTS:
Kerrie Jane Buchanan and Tony Charles Buchanan

RESPONDENT:
Sutherland Shire Council

30291 of 2005
APPLICANTS:
Traudel Kapanke and Manfred Kapanke

RESPONDENT:
Sutherland Shire Council

30292 of 2005
APPLICANTS:
Trudie Leonie Kathleen Moyle and Gregory John Moyle

RESPONDENT:
Sutherland Shire Council
FILE NUMBER(S): 30290; 30291; 30292 of 2005
CORAM: Biscoe J
KEY ISSUES: Compulsory Acquisition of Land :- assessment of applicant’s legal and consultant’s costs under s 59(a) and (b) of Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.
LEGISLATION CITED: Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 s 59(a) and (b)
CASES CITED: Buchanan; Kapanke; Moyle v Sutherland Shire Council [2007] NSWLEC 243
DATES OF HEARING: 19/12/07 (written submissions)
 
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 

1 February 2008
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES:

APPLICANTS:
Mr J Burrell, solicitor
SOLICITORS
Burrell Solicitors

RESPONDENT:
Mr J Cole, solicitor
SOLICITORS
Home Wilkinson Lowry


JUDGMENT:

      THE LAND AND
      ENVIRONMENT COURT
      OF NEW SOUTH WALES

      BISCOE J

      1 February 2008

      30290 of 2005

      BUCHANAN v SUTHERLAND SHIRE COUNCIL

      30291 of 2005

      KAPANKE v SUTHERLAND SHIRE COUNCIL

      30292 of 2005

      MOYLE v SUTHERLAND SHIRE COUNCIL

      JUDGMENT

1 HIS HONOUR: The only remaining issue in these resumption compensation proceedings which have otherwise been resolved, is the quantum of the applicants’ legal and consultant costs under s 59(a) and (b) of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. That issue is consequential upon the declarations and orders in my judgment dated 2 May 2007 in these proceedings: Buchanan; Kapanke; Moyle v Sutherland Shire Council [2007] NSWLEC 243 at [29].

2 The parties have made written submissions and have consented to my determining the quantum of these costs without giving reasons. I determine their quantum at $11,211.14.

3 Having regard to the result compared with the competing positions of the parties, I order the respondent to pay 50 percent of the applicants’ costs of the applicants’ notices of motion filed on 28 November 2007 relating to this issue. The proceedings will be listed before me at 9.30 am on Thursday 7 February 2008 for the purpose of making final orders in relation to the whole proceedings. By 4 pm on the preceding day the parties are to send agreed or competing short minutes of final orders electronically to my chambers.

Details
AGLC
Buchanan; Kapanke; Moyle v Sutherland Shire Council [2008] NSWLEC 41
Case
[2008] NSWLEC 41
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, three separate cases were heard simultaneously: Buchanan v Sutherland Shire Council, Kapanke v Sutherland Shire Council, and Moyle v Sutherland Shire Council. The applicants in each case sought compensation for the compulsory acquisition of their land by the Sutherland Shire Council. The court was tasked with determining the quantum of the applicants' legal and consultant costs under sections 59(a) and (b) of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.

The key legal issue before the court was the assessment of the applicants' legal and consultant costs incurred during the resumption compensation proceedings. The court was required to determine the appropriate amount to be awarded to the applicants for these costs, as well as the proportion of these costs to be borne by the Sutherland Shire Council. The applicants had previously agreed to have the quantum of these costs determined by the court without giving reasons.

In delivering the judgment, the court found that the applicants were entitled to a total of $11,211.14 in legal and consultant costs. The court also ordered that the Sutherland Shire Council was to pay 50 percent of the applicants' costs of the notices of motion filed on 28 November 2007 relating to this issue. The proceedings were scheduled for a final hearing on 7 February 2008 to make final orders in relation to the whole proceedings. The parties were required to submit agreed or competing short minutes of final orders electronically to the court's chambers by 4 pm on the preceding day.

Orders

Orders of the court

Full text does not contain this section.

Background

Background to the litigation

Full text does not contain this section.

Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

Full text does not contain this section.

Decision

Reasons for decision

Full text does not contain this section.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Full text does not contain this section.