Sklifoff v Chief Executive, Department of Treasury and Finance (for the Chief Executive, Department of Human Services) (No 2)

The Supreme Court of Victoria considered an application for costs in proceedings between Sklifoff (appellants) and the Chief Executive, Department of Treasury and Finance (for the Chief Executive, Department of Human Services) (respondent). The dispute concerned the application of the general rule that costs follow the event in civil proceedings.

The court was required to determine whether the ordinary rule that costs follow the event should apply to the proceedings. This involved considering the circumstances of the case and whether any exceptions to the general rule were warranted.

The court reasoned that the ordinary rule was applicable and ordered that the respondent's costs should follow the event. Consequently, the appellants were ordered to pay the respondent's costs, to be agreed between the parties or, failing agreement, to be taxed by the court.