Leeming v Leeming

Case [2023] NZHC 812


IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND AUCKLAND REGISTRY

I TE KŌTI MATUA O AOTEAROA TĀMAKI MAKAURAU ROHE

CIV-2022-404-001325

[2023] NZHC 812

UNDER Trusts Act 2019

IN THE MATTER OF

An application by the applicant for specific distribution from the estate of BARBARA ROSEMARY LEEMING

BETWEEN

DEAN EDWARD LEEMING

Applicant

AND

GARY SHELDON LEEMING and BRETT

RODERICK LEEMING as beneficiaries of the estate of BARBARA ROSEMARY

LEEMING

Respondents

Hearing: On the papers

Counsel:

D A Wood and N M Rathod for Applicant P McKendrick for Respondents

A J Bell and J Thwaite for Gary and Brett Leeming (Personal capacity)

D A Watson for Tony Leeming (Interested party) R Rao for Todd Leeming and Claudia Hegley

Judgment:

18 April 2023


JUDGMENT OF ANDREW J

[Costs]


This judgment was delivered by Justice Andrew on 18 April 2023 at 12 noon

pursuant to r 11.5 of the High Court Rules 2016 Registrar / Deputy Registrar

Date ………………………….

LEEMING v LEEMING [2023] NZHC 812 [18 April 2023]

Introduction

[1]        In my judgment of 3 February 2023,1 I made orders for an interim distribution from the estate.

[2]        The parties have been unable to agree on the issue of costs. The Court has received a joint memorandum of all counsel except counsel for the applicant. The applicant, while opposing the orders sought in a joint memorandum, has not provided the Court with any reasons for his opposition.

[3]        I am satisfied that it is appropriate to make the orders sought in the joint memorandum of 27 March 2023. Accordingly, I make the following orders:

(a)The costs of the parties are to be met by the estate of the late Barbara Rosemary Leeming as follows:

(i)Costs and disbursements to the applicant, Dean Edward Leeming, in the sum of $13,778;

(ii)Costs and disbursements to the interested parties, Gary Sheldon Leeming and Brett Roderick Leeming, in the sum of

$12,538.00;

(iii)Costs of the interested party, Tony Leeming, in the amount of

$5,019.00;

(iv)Costs of the interested parties, Todd Leeming and Claudia Hegley, in the sum of $4,063.00.


Andrew J


1      Leeming v Leeming [2023] NZHC 85 3 February 2023.

Details
AGLC
Leeming v Leeming [2023] NZHC 812
Case
[2023] NZHC 812
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of Leeming v Leeming, adjudicated by Justice Andrew on 18 April 2023, involves an application by Dean Edward Leeming for a specific distribution from the estate of Barbara Rosemary Leeming. The respondents, Gary Sheldon Leeming and Brett Roderick Leeming, are beneficiaries of the estate. The application was heard on the papers, and the court received a joint memorandum of all counsel, except for the applicant, who did not provide any reasons for his opposition to the orders sought in the memorandum. The primary legal issue before the court was whether the costs of the proceedings should be met by the estate of the deceased, and if so, how those costs should be apportioned among the various parties involved.

The court considered the submissions made in the joint memorandum and found that it was appropriate to make the orders sought by the memorandum. The reasoning behind the court's decision was that the costs should be borne by the estate of the deceased, as the proceedings were directly related to the distribution of the estate. The court made orders for the costs to be apportioned among the parties as follows: Dean Edward Leeming, as the applicant, was to receive $13,778; Gary Sheldon Leeming and Brett Roderick Leeming, as interested parties, were to receive $12,538; Tony Leeming, as another interested party, was to receive $5,019; and Todd Leeming and Claudia Hegley, as further interested parties, were to receive $4,063.

In summary, the court ruled that the costs of the proceedings should be met by the estate of Barbara Rosemary Leeming, and it made specific orders for the apportionment of those costs among the various parties involved. The final orders were that the costs and disbursements to the applicant, Dean Edward Leeming, were to be $13,778; to the interested parties, Gary Sheldon Leeming and Brett Roderick Leeming, were to be $12,538; to the interested party, Tony Leeming, were to be $5,019; and to the interested parties, Todd Leeming and Claudia Hegley, were to be $4,063. The court's decision was based on the reasoning that the costs should be borne by the estate of the deceased, as the proceedings were directly related to the distribution of the estate.

Orders

Orders of the court

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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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