PH & SG

The appeal concerned a dispute between PH & SG, with the respondent seeking costs of $6,000. The matter came before Kay J of the Federal Magistrates Court.

The central legal issue before the court was the proportionality and reasonableness of the costs claimed by the respondent.

Kay J expressed concern that the $6,000 claimed for costs appeared disproportionate to the matters involved and the professional costs that ought reasonably to have been incurred. However, the judge indicated that this was not a matter for determination in the present proceedings, which were not concerned with a solicitor-client taxing issue.