Catchwords:

CONTRACTS – Interpretation – Whether payments totalling $1.3 million were made by respondent to appellant as a loan – Whether evidence established common assumption between parties as to nature of sum – Whether private uncommunicated views inconsistent with asserted characterisation – Appeal dismissed

COSTS – Appeal from costs order of primary judge – Where primary judge ordered each party to bear own costs on the basis that the result was “mixed” – Where final result in proceedings was judgment in favour of AGT – Identification of relevant “event” for purposes of r 42.1 of Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) where result mixed – Apportionment of costs on an impressionistic basis – Proportionate reduction appropriate – Cross-appeal allowed

APPEALS – Where cross-appeal initially brought with respect to grounds other than strictly costs – Where substantive grounds subsequently fall away – Whether leave to appeal necessary