Eyewitness News – Hotel K SEMINYAK
October 10,2026
Adrian James Campbell’s Federal Court proceeding against Jamie Neville McIntyre has produced an uncomfortable admission from his own legal team: court orders were not complied with, promised steps remained incomplete, and more time was urgently needed.
In orders delivered today in Brisbane, Justice Derrington granted extensions for deadlines originally imposed on September 4. The Court also established a firm timetable to assess the costs Campbell must pay under earlier orders issued on August 20.
For an applicant driving the litigation, the setback marks a poor showing. Campbell continues to ask the Court to advance his complaints, even as his own solicitor acknowledges that required procedural steps have been missed.
Workload Blamed for Delays
The formal explanation appeared in an affidavit affirmed on October 8 by Nicholas Joseph Rossi, a solicitor at Marino Law representing Campbell.
Rossi explicitly acknowledged the delay and non-compliance with the September orders. However, he maintained that Campbell still intends to amend his originating application and file a formal statement of claim.
According to the affidavit, the delays stemmed from several operational hurdles:
• Document Review: Further publications concerning Campbell required extensive legal review.
• Complex Material: Additional instructions and substantial background materials were continuously supplied.
• Schedule Conflicts: Counsel’s review took longer than anticipated due to overlapping court commitments.
The affidavit noted that correspondence regarding the document preparation remains legal professional privilege and was not exhibited. This leaves the explanation resting primarily on Rossi’s account of instructions from Campbell and counsel.
Crucially, Rossi confirmed that no application for leave to amend the originating application had been filed, nor had an interlocutory application seeking further injunctive relief. The contrast remains stark: while new complaints were actively being gathered, the procedural steps required to put Campbell’s case properly before the Court remained unfinished.
Timeline of Key Court Dates
• Extension of Compliance Deadlines: The Court has officially extended the compliance deadlines for three September orders to three separate dates: 16 October, 23 October, and 20 November 2026.
• Lump Sum Costs Assessment: The Court directed that Campbell’s ongoing cost liabilities under the 20 August orders be fixed as a lump sum by the Registrar.
• Costs Summary Schedule:
• 16 October: Deadline for McIntyre to file and serve his Costs Summary.
• 23 October: Deadline for Campbell to respond.
• Party Cooperation: Written submissions may follow, and both parties are required to cooperate to assist the Registrar in fixing the costs prior to 20 November 2026.
• McIntyre’s Perspective: McIntyre notes that the earlier award requires Campbell to pay 80% of his relevant costs. Today’s orders move that liability toward a quantified bill, although they do not specify a payment deadline. For McIntyre, this represents a concrete development amid ongoing delays.
• Hearing Agenda for 16 February 2027:
• The next scheduled hearing is set for 16 February 2027.
• If McIntyre files an application for security for costs by 20 November, that application will be heard in February. Otherwise, the matter will return for case management.
• Case Status: Notably, the February listing does not decide the merits of the case, does not set a final trial, does not dismiss Campbell’s proceeding, and does not determine that he has lost.
Costs Assessment Moves Forward
While Campbell secured more time on his filings, the financial consequences of earlier delays are escalating. Today’s orders directed that Campbell’s existing costs liability under the August 20 orders be fixed in a lump sum by the Registrar.
McIntyre claims the earlier award requires Campbell to cover 80% of his relevant legal costs. Today’s ruling moves that liability toward a quantified bill, establishing a concrete timetable even though a final payment deadline has not been set.
Next Steps for February 2027
The matter is listed to return to court on February 16, 2027. If McIntyre files an application for security for costs by November 20, it will be heard on that date; otherwise, the hearing will focus on general case management.
Legal observers note that today’s orders do not determine the merits of the case, dismiss Campbell’s proceeding, or set a final trial date. While McIntyre argues that the delays suggest an effort to buy time rather than confidence in the lawsuit, the record establishes non-compliance rather than deliberate obstruction.
Nevertheless, the procedural record presents a clear challenge for the applicant: Campbell initiated the suit, but the most damaging assessment of his case’s progress currently comes from his own legal team.
Leave a comment