FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Visscher v Teekay Shipping (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 3)
[2014] FCAFC 31
Citation: Visscher v Teekay Shipping (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2014] FCAFC 31 Parties: TIMOTHY VISSCHER v TEEKAY SHIPPING (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD ACN 079 641 580 File number: NSD 1929 of 2012 Judges: RARES, JAGOT AND BROMBERG JJ Date of judgment: 24 March 2014 Legislation: Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 25.14(1)(a) Cases cited: Storey & Keers Pty Ltd v Johnstone (1987) 9 NSWLR 446 applied
Visscher v Teekay Shipping (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] FCAFC 19 referred toDate of last submissions: 12 March 2014 Place: Sydney Division: GENERAL DIVISION Category: No catchwords Number of paragraphs: 4 Counsel for the Appellant: The appellant appeared in person Counsel for the Respondent: Mr P Brereton SC with Mr B Cross Solicitor for the Respondent: Norton Rose Fulbright
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION
NSD 1929 of 2012
BETWEEN: TIMOTHY VISSCHER
AppellantAND: TEEKAY SHIPPING (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD ACN 079 641 580
Respondent
JUDGES:
RARES, JAGOT AND BROMBERG JJ
DATE OF ORDER:
24 MARCH 2014
WHERE MADE:
SYDNEY
THE COURT ORDERS THAT:
1.Order 1 made by the primary judge on 29 January 2013 be set aside and in lieu thereof it be ordered that:
1.The respondent pay the applicant’s costs up to 11:00 am on 9 March 2012, the applicant pay the respondent’s costs after that time on an indemnity basis and the respective liabilities of the respondent and the applicant to the other under this order may be set off against each other.
2.Order 3 made by the Full Court on 7 March 2014 be varied by substituting “pursuant to Order 1 made by the Full Court on 24 March 2014” for the words “pursuant to Order 1 made by the primary judge on 29 January 2013”.
Note:Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION
NSD 1929 of 2012
BETWEEN: TIMOTHY VISSCHER
AppellantAND: TEEKAY SHIPPING (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD ACN 079 641 580
Respondent
JUDGES:
RARES, JAGOT AND BROMBERG JJ
DATE:
24 MARCH 2014
PLACE:
SYDNEY
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
Following delivery of the Full Court’s reasons on the issue of costs (Visscher v Teekay Shipping (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] FCAFC 19), Mr Visscher pointed out a matter that had not been addressed by the parties and so was overlooked by the Full Court. That was that he would have been entitled to an order for costs up to 11:00 am on 9 March 2012 by operation of r 25.14(1)(a), had the primary judge made the order for payment in his favour that the majority found Mr Visscher to be entitled to on appeal. Teekay did not oppose the correction sought by Mr Visscher.
Accordingly, it is necessary to vary the order made by the primary judge in favour of Teekay on 29 January 2013 that entitled it to party/party costs before 11:00 am on 9 March 2012 to give effect to the operation of r 25.14(1)(a) so that those costs listed are payable by Teekay to Mr Visscher and that thereafter he remain liable to pay Teekay’s costs on an indemnity basis. The respective entitlements of the parties under the costs orders made in the proceeding should be set off.
The orders that the Full Court made on 7 March 2014 were entered on 11 March 2014 before the Full Court had received Teekay’s response on 12 March 2014. That response stated that Teekay did not oppose the amendment to the orders sought by Mr Visscher. The entered orders should be varied pursuant to r 39.05(h) or the Court’s implied or inherent jurisdiction to correct an order made where an accident, omission or mistake has occurred incidentally in respect of a matter that was before it: Storey & Keers Pty Ltd v Johnstone (1987) 9 NSWLR 446 at 452 F-G per McHugh JA. Mr Visscher’s entitlement to the order under r 25.14(1)(a) was an issue before the Full Court that requires a variation to the orders made on 7 March 2014.
For the reasons above, the orders made on 7 March 2014 contain an error because they failed to recognise Mr Visscher’s entitlement to costs before 11:00 am on 9 March 2012 under r 25.14(1)(a). That error by the Full Court arose because of an accidental slip or omission.
I certify that the preceding four (4) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justices Rares, Jagot and Bromberg. Associate:
Dated: 24 March 2014
- AGLC
- Visscher v Teekay Shipping (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2014] FCAFC 31
- Case
- [2014] FCAFC 31
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The court considered the appropriate method for assessing and apportioning costs in light of the orders made by the primary judge and the Full Court. The court found that the primary judge’s order for costs was made without considering the correct legal principles, and that the Full Court’s subsequent order also contained an error in its reference to the primary judge’s order. The court held that the costs should be apportioned based on the events that occurred up until the time specified in the orders, and that the respective liabilities of the parties could be set off against each other. The court also noted that the Full Court’s order should be varied to accurately reflect the legal basis for the costs assessment.
In light of the above, the court set aside the primary judge’s order for costs and made a new order that the respondent pay the applicant’s costs up to 11:00 am on 9 March 2012, with the applicant paying the respondent’s costs after that time on an indemnity basis. The court also varied the Full Court’s order to correctly reference the legal basis for the costs assessment. The orders made by the court were in accordance with Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.
Orders
Orders of the court
1. Order 1 made by the primary judge on 29 January 2013 be set aside and in lieu thereof it be ordered that:
1. The respondent pay the applicant’s costs up to 11:00 am on 9 March 2012, the applicant pay the respondent’s costs after that time on an indemnity basis and the respective liabilities of the respondent and the applicant to the other under this order may be set off against each other.
2. Order 3 made by the Full Court on 7 March 2014 be varied by substituting “pursuant to Order 1 made by the Full Court on 24 March 2014” for the words “pursuant to Order 1 made by the primary judge on 29 January 2013”.
Note: Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.
Background
Background to the litigation
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Evidence
Evidence Before The Court
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Decision
Reasons for decision
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Ratio Decidendi
Legal Principle Established
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