FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

 

Powerflex Services Pty Ltd v Data Access Corp [2000] FCA 386


POWERFLEX SERVICES PTY LTD (ACN 007 302 810), POWERFLEX CORPORATION PTY LTD (ACN 058 475 488), DAVID MEREDITH BENNETT, MARGARET ANN BENNETT and DEMILEIGH PTY LTD (ACN 006 026 704) v DATA ACCESS CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO 508 968)

 

VG 295 OF 1996

 

 

 

 

 

 

BLACK CJ, HILL and SUNDBERG JJ

30 MARCH 2000

MELBOURNE


IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

 

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY

VG 295 OF 1996

 

On Appeal from a single Judge of the Federal Court of Australia

 

BETWEEN:

POWERFLEX SERVICES PTY LTD (ACN 007 302 810)

FIRST APPELLANT

 

POWERFLEX CORPORATION PTY LTD (ACN 058 475 488)

SECOND APPELLANT

 

DAVID MEREDITH BENNETT

THIRD APPELLANT

 

MARGARET ANN BENNETT

FOURTH APPELLANT

 

DEMILEIGH PTY LTD (ACN 006 026 704)

FIFTH APPELLANT

 

AND:

DATA ACCESS CORPORATION

(REGISTRATION NO 508 968)

RESPONDENT

 


JUDGE:

BLACK CJ, HILL and SUNDBERG JJ

DATE OF ORDER:

30 MARCH 2000

WHERE MADE:

MELBOURNE

 

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

 

1.                  The respondent pay seven‑eights of the appellants’ costs of the appeal.

2.                  The respondent (cross‑appellant) pay the appellants’ (cross‑respondents’) costs of the cross‑appeal.

3.                  The respondent pay the appellants’ costs of and incidental to the trial save for such part of those costs as is referable to the Huffman Table issue.

4.                  The costs of the fourth appellant of the trial, and the question whether any part of the respondent’s costs should be paid by the fourth appellant, be reserved.


Note:    Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.


IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

 

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY

VG 295 OF 1996

 

On Appeal from a single Judge of the Federal Court of Australia

 

BETWEEN:

POWERFLEX SERVICES PTY LTD (ACN 007 302 810

FIRST APPELLANT

 

POWERFLEX CORPORATION PTY LTD (ACN 058 475 488)

SECOND APPELLANT

 

DAVID MEREDITH BENNETT

THIRD APPELLANT

 

MARGARET ANN BENNETT

FOURTH APPELLANT

 

DEMILEIGH PTY LTD (ACN 006 026 704)

FIFTH APPELLANT

 

AND:

DATA ACCESS CORPORATION

(REGISTRATION NO 508 968)

RESPONDENT

 

 

JUDGE:

BLACK CJ, HILL and SUNDBERG JJ

DATE:

30 MARCH 2000

PLACE:

MELBOURNE


REASONS FOR JUDGMENT AS TO COSTS

 

1                     The appellants have succeeded on all but one point on the appeal.  The issue on which they have failed, the Huffman Table, was a subsidiary one.  They should have seven eights of their costs of the appeal.

2                     The appellants have been successful on the cross‑appeal, and should have their costs.

3                     The outcome of the appeal and cross‑appeal shows that the appellants should have been successful at first instance on all significant issues except the Huffman Table issue.  The appellants should therefore have their costs of the trial except such part of it as is referable to the Huffman Table.

4                     The costs of the fourth appellant of the trial, and the question whether any part of the respondent’s costs should be paid by the fourth appellant, should be reserved.


I certify that the preceding four (4) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Chief Justice Black, the Honourable Justice Hill and the Honourable Justice Sundberg.



Associate:


Dated:              30 March 2000



Counsel for the Appellant:

R C Macaw QC and Dr J F Bleechmore



Solicitor for the Appellant:

Trumble Szanto Braham



Counsel for the Respondent:

J W K Burnside QC



Solicitor for the Respondent:

Stephens Solicitors



Date of Hearing:

10 June 1997



Date of Order:

30 March 2000