The Estate of Frances Kedesch Michell [2020] NSWSC 1300

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Estate of Frances Kedesch Michell [2020] NSWSC 1300 Hearing dates: 15 September 2020 Date of orders: 24 September 2020 Decision date: 24 September 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: The Court: (1) Orders that the notice of motion filed on 26 June 2020 be dismissed. (2) Orders that the Administrators pay the second Respondent's costs of the notice of motion. (3) Orders in the event that the second Respondent seeks a specified gross sum, instead of assessed costs, the evidence in support of that application, together with any submissions, be served within 7 days of the date of the making of these orders. (4) Directs that the Administrators serve any evidence in opposition to the application for a specified gross sum, together with any submissions, within 7 days thereafter. (5) Orders that the issue of costs be determined in Chambers on the papers. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – succession – Filing, verification and passing of accounts – Power of Registrar to moderate accounts – Nature and extent of power to moderate costs –Relevance of UCPR r 42.5(a) - Review of Registrar's moderation of legal costs and disbursements paid to Administrators' solicitors out of the deceased's estate in circumstances where order for costs, calculated on indemnity basis, of proceedings made Legislation Cited: Practice Note SC Eq 7, pars 6, 9 Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW), s 85 Succession Act 2006 (NSW), ss 59, 105, 111, 129 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), Pt 78 rr 75, 81, 94 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 42.5, 49.19, 49.20 Cases Cited: Allen v Jarvis (1869) LR 4 Ch App 616 Bassett v Atherley [2011] WASC 117 Brown v Burdett (1888) LR 40 Ch D 244 Brown v Grosfeld [2011] NSWSC 1429 Chow v Chow [2016] NSWSC 908 Cree – The Estate of Peters [2007] NSWSC 1291 DJ Singh v DH Singh and Others [2017] NSWCA 234 Estate of Sharman; Ex parte Verslius [1999] NSWSC 709 Glazier v Australian Men's Health (No 2) [2001] NSWSC 6 Harris v Caladine (1991) 172 CLR 84; [1991] HCA 9 Hons v Hons [2010] NSWSC 247 In the Estate of Margaret, deceased [2012] NSWSC 1490 In the Will of Kerrigan (1935) SR (NSW) 242 In the Will of Lucas-Tooth (No 1) (1931) 49 WN (NSW) 18 In the Will of Lucas-Tooth (No 2) (1932) 50 WN (NSW) 86 In the Will of Macnamara (1895) 6 QLJ 219 In the Will of WW Jenkins (1904) 4 SR (NSW) 625 Indyk Estate - Wiernik v Indyk [2010] NSWSC 713 Ludwig v The Public Trustee (2006) 170 A Crim R 460; [2006] NSWSC 890 Noble Earth Technologies Pty Ltd v Hampic Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 935 Re Collie; Ex parte Adamson (1878) 8 Ch D 807 Re Ellis; Ellis v Ellis (2015) 14 ASTLR 475; [2015] WASC 77 Re Estate Gowing; Application for Executor's Commission [2014] NSWSC 247 Re Estate of Instone (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 9th August 1993, 23 August 1993, Powell J, unrep) Shave v Shave; Estate of Shave [2011] NSWSC 1356 The Estate of Arthur Michael Falco; Falco v Lambert (No 3) [2015] NSWSC 1343 The Estate of Erminia Agnes Rogers v Rogers [2009] WASC 358 The Estate of Orre (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 19 December 1991, Powell J, unrep) Tomko v Palasty (No 2) (2007) 71 NSWLR 61; [2007] NSWCA 369 Wiley Re LED (South Coast) Pty Ltd (2009) 76 NSWLR 428; [2009] NSWSC 946 Texts Cited: E B Smyth and J R Peden, Executorship Accounts (6th ed, 1975, Law Book Co) E Finnane, C Wood and N Newton, 'Equity Practice and Precedents' (2nd ed, 2019, Law Book Co) G P Stuckey and C D Erwin (eds) Mason and Handler, Succession Law and Practice (NSW) (Lexis Nexis, looseleaf) P Suttor and L Ellison SC et al, de Groot's Wills, Probate and Administration Practice (New South Wales) (de Groot's Publishing, looseleaf) Parker's Practice in equity (New South Wales) (2nd ed, 1949, Law Book Company) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Martha Pietor and Benjamin Pietor (first and second Applicants) Robert Christie (first Respondent) Sasha Freeman (second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: S H Hartford Davis (Applicants) R Golovina (Solicitor) (second Respondent) R Christie (first Respondent in person)