Supreme Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 22) Rules 2002
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Supreme Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 22)
Rules 2002
S.R. No. 121/2002
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Rule Page
1. Object 1
2. Authorising provisions 1
3. Commencement 1
4. Principal Rules 1
5. Costs consequences of failure to accept offer 1
6. Substitution of Appendix A 2
7. Amendments to Appendix B 11
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ENDNOTES 13
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1
STATUTORY RULES 2002
S.R. No. 121/2002
Supreme Court Act 1986
Supreme Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 22)
Rules 2002
The Judges of the Supreme Court make the following Rules:
1. Object
The object of these Rules is to make
miscellaneous amendments to the Principal Rules.
2. Authorising provisions
These Rules are made under section 25 of the
Supreme Court Act 1986 and all other enabling
powers.
3. Commencement
These Rules come into operation on 1 January
2003.
4. Principal Rules
In these Rules, the Supreme Court (General Civil
Procedure) Rules 1996 1 are called the Principal
Rules.
5. Costs consequences of failure to accept offer
In Rule 26.08(2) of the Principal Rules, for "on a
solicitor and client basis" (where twice occurring)
substitute "on an indemnity basis".
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6. Substitution of Appendix A
For Appendix A to the Principal Rules
substitute—
"APPENDIX A
SCALE OF COSTS
Instructions
1. To institute or defend any proceeding or
appeal $217.00
2. To make or oppose any interlocutory
application $52.00
3. For statement of claim whether indorsed
on writ or third party notice or served
separately, or counterclaim $107.00
4. For any other pleading, particulars in lieu
of pleading or amended pleading $52.00
5. For counsel to advise or give an opinion $52.00
6. For counsel to make an interlocutory
application where no other brief $52.00
7. For witness statements, summaries of
evidence or like documents,
interrogatories, answers to
interrogatories, oral examination for
discovery, affidavit or other document
for filing on an interlocutory application
other than a short, formal affidavit or
other document $107.00
8. For a necessary document not otherwise
provided for, such fee as may be
reasonable in the circumstances
No allowance for instructions shall be
made under the above items where an
allowance for the work is claimed in
detail and allowed on that basis
Instead of the fees for instructions above,
such larger sum may be allowed as the
Taxing Master thinks reasonable in the
circumstances
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9. Instructions for brief on trial of
proceedings, including an assessment of
damages or value or a trial before special
referee, or an appeal, such allowances as
the Taxing Master thinks reasonable in
the circumstances
Originating Process
10. Writ or originating motion or summons
(where filed as originating process) $124.00
11. If any of the above exceed three folios
(when not drawn by counsel) for each
extra folio $23.00
The above allowances include all
indorsements of claim, copy for filing
and one copy for service and attendance
to file, but not Court fees
Corporations Short Form Bill
11A. Costs of obtaining a winding-up order up
to and including authentication, filing
and service of the order under
section 470 of the Corporations Act and
the obtaining from the Taxing Master of
an order as to costs $2490.00
Additional costs are allowable for any
adjournment in accordance with item 34
or 35 in respect of which costs have been
reserved by the Court
Interlocutory Process
12. Summons before Judge or Master $107.00
13. Subpoena $63.00
If a subpoena exceeds three folios, for
each extra folio $8.40
These allowances include preparation of
document, copy for filing and one copy
for service and attendance to file
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Execution Process
14. Warrant of execution $124.00
This allowance includes preparation of
the warrant, copy for filing and one copy
for service and attendance to file
Notices and Memoranda
15. Notice to produce or any other necessary
or proper notice or memorandum not
otherwise provided for, or any demand $42.00
This allowance does not apply to a short
notice or memorandum indorsed on
another document, but an allowance may
be made therefor as part of the allowance
for the document
16. If the notice is special, or necessarily
exceeds three folios, for each folio
The above allowances include
preparation of the notice and one copy
for filing or service
$23.00
Appearance
17. Preparing and attending filing notice of
appearance (including one copy for
service) $75.00
Drawing Pleadings and Other
Documents
18. (a) Pleadings, including petitions,
indorsement constituting statement of
claim on writ or third party notice,
including particulars
(b) If exceeding three folios, for each
extra folio
$107.00
$23.00
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19. Any other necessary document, per folio $23.00
No allowance is to be made to a solicitor
for drawing a document drawn by
counsel, but a fee may be allowed for
drawing matter necessary to instruct
counsel
In allowing for drawing, the Taxing
Master may disallow anything which is a
repetition or adaptation of matter for the
drawing of which allowance has
otherwise been made in the proceeding.
The Taxing Master may increase these
allowances if in the circumstances he
thinks it reasonable to do so
20. For preparing each exhibit $4.20
Engrossment and Copies
21. Engrossment of documents, per folio $4.20
22. (a) Copy or photocopy of document, per
page
(b) Reproduction of document from
microfiche, microfilm or like process,
per page, the actual cost or
$1.50
$1.50
23. Where under the Rules or any order of
the Court or for other sufficient cause
any document is printed out and it would
not have been reasonable to send the
original to the printer, a copy for the
printer shall be allowed, per page $1.50
24. Where more than ten copies of the same
document are required, the amount
actually and properly paid to a printer (in
addition to all necessary attendances on
the printer), or, if reproduced by the
solicitor, the equivalent amount or such
lesser amount as the Taxing Master
considers fair and reasonable having
regard to commercial rates for similar
services, shall be allowed
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Where it is necessary to print any part of
a document in a foreign language, or as a
facsimile, or in any unusual or special
manner, or where any alteration in the
document printed becomes necessary
after the first proof, such further
allowance shall be made as the Taxing
Master thinks reasonable
Perusals
25. Of all pleadings, amendments of
pleadings (which exceed three folios),
applications by summons, notice or
otherwise, third party notices,
interrogatories, answers thereto,
transcripts of discovery by oral
examination, notices, affidavits, draft
orders submitted for approval by another
party, drafts of documents to be settled
by an officer of the Court, orders (unless
an allowance has been made previously
for perusal of a draft), opinions or
advices of counsel where requested, bills
of costs necessarily perused by the
solicitor for the party on whom it was
served $33.00
Or per folio $4.70
26. Of all other documents, including deeds,
correspondence (including incoming
correspondence), exhibits, per folio $3.50
If the solicitor is or ought to be familiar
with the contents of the document or if it
is not necessary to read all of it carefully,
the Taxing Master shall allow such
smaller amount as he thinks reasonable.
No allowance shall be made for the
solicitor perusing letters which he
receives unless the Taxing Master
considers there are special circumstances
for doing so
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27. Alternatively, for examining a document
or checking a proof or print or examining
an appeal book
Solicitor, per quarter hour $52.00
Clerk, per quarter hour $31.00
Service
28. Service of any document where
necessary, and not able to be served by
post $51.00
Or such charge as is reasonable having
regard to the number of necessary
attendances, the time taken, the distance
travelled and any expense incurred
29. Where by reason of the location of the
person to be served it is proper to effect
service through an agent, instead of an
allowance for service—
(a) for correspondence with the agent $33.00
(b) the amount actually and reasonably
charged by the agent
Where more than one attendance is
necessary to effect service, or to ground
an application for substituted service, the
Taxing Master may make such further
allowance under items 28 and 29 as he
thinks reasonable
For service out of Victoria, the Taxing
Master shall make such allowance as he
thinks reasonable
30. Service of document on a party by filing
or leaving at the office of his solicitor or
other address for service, where that
mode of service is necessary $31.00
31. Service of document on a party by post
or leaving at document exchange $17.00
Only one fee for service shall be allowed
where two or more documents are or
could have been served together
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Attendances
32. (a) On counsel with brief on trial of
proceeding, including an assessment
of damages or value or a trial before a
special referee or an appeal $64.00
(b) On counsel with any other brief or
papers or to appoint consultation or
conference (including all attendances
to settle counsel's fees) $42.00
33. (a) On consultation or conference with
counsel $107.00
(b) Where a consultation or conference
occupies more than one half hour, if
the Taxing Master thinks it
reasonable, for each subsequent half
hour $107.00
(c) If the solicitor does not attend
personally, the allowance shall be as
the Taxing Master thinks reasonable,
but not exceeding, for—
the first half hour
each half hour thereafter
$52.00
$52.00
34. On any application or attendance before
a Judge, a Master or the Taxing Master,
Listing Master, or Prothonotary,
examination of a witness, discovery by
oral examination, assessment of damages
or value, trial or inquiry, trial of a
proceeding or hearing of an appeal,
where in list or likely to be heard $107.00
35. (a) At trial or hearing, for each hour $217.00
But, according to circumstances, not
to exceed per day of six hours
(including luncheon and dinner
adjournments) $1036.00
or,
If attended by clerk $517.00
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(b) To hear reserved judgment, for each
half hour
$107.00
(c) By appointment or on short or formal
application to a Judge or Master or
the Taxing Master, Listing Master or
Prothonotary $107.00
36. Where in the opinion of the Taxing
Master the attendance of two principals
or of a solicitor and clerk at trial is
necessary, an additional allowance may
be made not exceeding per day of six
hours (including luncheon and dinner
adjournments) $1036.00
37. To settle judgment or order, per half hour $107.00
38. In addition to reasonable expenses for
travel and sustenance, allowance may be
made for a solicitor travelling to a place
more than 50 kilometres distant from his
place of residence or business where—
(a) the journey was necessary and proper
for the purpose of the proceeding and
what was done by the solicitor could
not have been done satisfactorily by
an agent; and
(b) the solicitor was necessarily absent
from his office, and for that time no
charge could otherwise be made, and
having regard to what other
allowances may be made to the
solicitor in the proceeding
Not exceeding per day $1036.00
If the journey is not undertaken solely for
the purpose of the proceeding, the
Taxing Master may allow a proportion of
the fee as he thinks reasonable
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39. To file or lodge any document, to obtain
an appointment from an officer of the
Court, or to insert an advertisement or
other attendance of a similar nature
capable of performance by a junior clerk $31.00
40. If the exercise of skill or legal knowledge
is involved so as to require the personal
attendance of the solicitor, per quarter
hour $52.00
Or, if attendance by solicitor's clerk, per
quarter hour $31.00
Or such larger amount as the Taxing
Master thinks reasonable having regard
to the importance or difficulty of the
subject matter of attendance
41. Making an appointment or similar
attendance by telephone, at the discretion
of the Taxing Master $11.00
42. Arranging attendance of a witness or any
attendance for which no other provision
is made, per quarter hour $31.00
43. Sending or receiving telex, telegram or
facsimile documents $31.00
Or such larger amount as is reasonable in
the circumstances having regard to the
length
Correspondence
44. Letter making an appointment or
forwarding document without
explanation or the like $15.00
45. Letter, ordinary $27.00
46. Letter, special $36.00
Or such amount as the Taxing Master
thinks reasonable
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47. Circular letter, after the first $10.00
For each additional page after the first
page, the photocopying charge shall
apply
The above allowances include the
standard surface rate of postage, but, if
any communication is necessarily made
by telex, telegram or transmission of a
facsimile, the appropriate statutory
charges may be allowed as a
disbursement
48. Where any agent is employed, for
correspondence with the agent which the
Taxing Master thinks reasonable, per
quarter of the year
$52.00
to
$217.00
Or, if special or extensive, in the
discretion of the Taxing Master.".
7. Amendments to Appendix B
In Appendix B to the Principal Rules, in the items
for Interpreters' Allowances—
(a) in item 1, for "$203" substitute "$238"; and
(b) in item 2, for "$203" substitute "$238".
Dated: 28 November 2002
J. H. PHILLIPS, C.J.
JOHN WINNEKE, P.
W. F. ORMISTON, J.A.
JOHN D. PHILLIPS, J.A.
STEPHEN CHARLES, J.A.
J. M. BATT, J.A.
PETER BUCHANAN, J.A.
ALEX CHERNOV, J.A.
G. M. EAMES, J.A.
BERNARD G. TEAGUE, J.
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DAVID ASHLEY, J.
JOHN COLDREY, J.
DAVID BYRNE, J.
D. L. HARPER, J.
H. R. HANSEN, J.
ROSEMARY BALMFORD, J.
E. W. GILLARD, J.
M. L. WARREN, J.
BERNARD D. BONGIORNO, J.
R. S. OSBORN, J.
GEOFFREY NETTLE, J.
K. WILLIAMS, J.
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ENDNOTES
1 Rule 4: S.R. No. 19/1996. Reprint (No. 3) incorporating amendments as at
12 July 2001. Subsequently amended by S.R. Nos 111/2001, 130/2001,
36/2002 and 91/2002.
Endnotes
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