H K Frost Holdings Pty Ltd (in liq) v Darvall McCutcheon (A Firm) [1999] FCA 570

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

H K Frost Holdings Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) v Darvall McCutcheon (A Firm) [1999] FCA 570 NEGLIGENCE – legal practitioners - breach of retainer – conduct of litigation – failure to preserve cause of action – loss of opportunity to pursue action for breach of confidence –duties of solicitors Chamberlain v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1988) 164 CLR 502 applied Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589 referred to Yates Property Corporation (in Liq) v Boland (1998) 157 ALR 30 considered Landsal Pty Ltd v REI Building Society (1993) 41 FCR 421 applied MacIntosh v Lobel (1993) 30 NSWLR 441 referred to Autodesk Inc v Dyason (1993) 176 CLR 300 referred to Theo v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy, Federal Court of Australia, Black CJ, Sackville and Finn JJ, 23 July 1998, referred to Brew v Whitlock (No 3) [1968] VR 504 referred to Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332 applied Talbot v General Television Corporation Pty Ltd [1980] VR 224 referred to Fraser v Thames Television Ltd [1984] 1 QB 44 applied ANZ Banking Group v Frost Holdings Pty Ltd [1989] VR 695 referred to Interfirm Comparison (Australia) v Law Society of New South Wales (1975) 5 ALR 527 cited Ansell Rubber Co Pty Ltd v Allied Rubber Industries Pty Ltd [1967] VR 37 referred to Smith Kline & French Laboratories (Aust) Ltd v Secretary, Department of Community Services and Health (1990) 22 FCR 73 referred to Dawson & Mason Ltd v Potter [1986] 2 All ER 418 referred to Seagar v Copydex Ltd (No 2) [1969] 2 All ER 415 referred to Instant Nominees Pty Ltd v Redman [1987] WAR 218 applied The Ritz Hotel Ltd v Charles of the Ritz Ltd (1989) AIPC 90-567 referred to

H K FROST HOLDINGS PTY LTD (IN LIQUIDATION) v DARVALL McCUTCHEON (A FIRM) VG 217 OF 1998

FINN J MELBOURNE