I had a case listed in the Victorian Supreme Court commercial division. I was the respondent/defendant and the other party claimed I had committed contempt and was asking the judge to fine and imprison me.
I was self-represented and the judge who was annoyed that the case had been listed before him redirected the case to the common law division.
I appeared again, some five months later, self-represented and I had filed my affidavits and submission. The Judge in his opening address stated that he was of the opinion there was no case to answer and dismissed the allegation in the summons that I had committed contempt.
No costs order was made.
The whole matter took eight months from start to finish. It cost me a lot of money as I did get legal advice from a barrister then could not afford the fees anymore and had to go it alone. I also got stressed and couldn't work for several months.
Can I claim costs and what sort of costs could I expect to get and how much would it cost me?
I was self-represented and the judge who was annoyed that the case had been listed before him redirected the case to the common law division.
I appeared again, some five months later, self-represented and I had filed my affidavits and submission. The Judge in his opening address stated that he was of the opinion there was no case to answer and dismissed the allegation in the summons that I had committed contempt.
No costs order was made.
The whole matter took eight months from start to finish. It cost me a lot of money as I did get legal advice from a barrister then could not afford the fees anymore and had to go it alone. I also got stressed and couldn't work for several months.
Can I claim costs and what sort of costs could I expect to get and how much would it cost me?