In Drummond v Davidson and Drummond v National Trade & Finance Co Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] QSC 207, the Supreme Court of Queensland, presided over by Justice Treston, addressed cost judgments following applications for a permanent stay filed by the defendants. On 28 August 2024, the court dismissed these applications, leading to a discussion on the appropriate allocation of costs. The defendants argued that costs should be reserved or attributed as the parties’ costs in the cause, citing the possibility of eventual success in the substantive proceedings and purported delays in commencing the case. However, the court held firm to the general principle that costs typically follow the event, dismissing the defendants’ arguments regarding delays and the potential for the plaintiff’s claims to fail. The ruling ultimately ordered the defendants to pay the plaintiff’s costs for each application on the standard basis.
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