Morris v Leaney [2021] NSWDC 224

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Morris v Leaney [2021] NSWDC 224 Hearing dates: 24-27 August 2020, 8-9 and 12 February 2021; written submissions 17 March 2021 Date of orders: 10 June 2021 Decision date: 10 June 2021 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Smith SC, DCJ Decision: 1. Judgment for the plaintiffs in the sum of $1,000. 2. The plaintiffs file submissions of no more than three pages, if any, in relation to costs within 14 days. 3. The defendant file any submissions of no more than three pages in response within 14 days. 4. Unless the parties consent to the issue of costs being determined without further oral hearing, the matter is to be listed for hearing on costs on a date to be fixed by arrangement with my associate. Catchwords: TORTS – professional negligence – architect – damages – breach of contract - false and misleading representations – reliance on representations – loss and damage – concurrent wrongdoer Legislation Cited: Architect's Regulation 2004, Sch 1 – NSW Architect's Code of Professional Conduct Architects Act 2003 (NSW) Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Competition & Consumer Act, 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 – Australian Consumer Law Cases Cited: Auburn Municipal Council v ARC Engineering Pty Ltd [1973] 1 NSWLR 513 Australian Provincial Assurance Co Ltd v Coroneo (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 700 Bellgrove v Elridge (1954) 90 CLR 613; [1954] HCA 36 Beregold Pty Ltd v Mitsopoulos (t/a D Mitsopoulos & Associates) (1999) 15 BCL 290 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 592; [2004] HCA 60 Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 238 CLR 304; [2009] HCA 25 Campomar Sociedad, Limitada v Nike International Ltd (2000) 202 CLR 45; [2000] HCA 12 Chappel v Hart (1998) 195 CLR 232; [1998] HCA 55 Doepel & Associates Architects Pty Ltd v Hodgkinson [2008] WASCA 262 Forrest v Australian Securities and Investment Commission (2012) 247 CLR 486; [2012] HCA 39 Global Sportsman Pty Ltd v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1984) 2 FCR 82 Huppert v Stock Options of Australia Pty Ltd (1965) 112 CLR 414; [1965] HCA 30 Ireland v WG Riverview Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 307 Jewelsnloo Pty Ltd v Sengos [2016] NSWCA 309 Kennedy Street Pty Ltd v The Minister [1963] NSWR 1252 Luna Park (NSW) Ltd v Tramways Advertising Pty Ltd (1938) 61 CLR 286; [1938] HCA 66 McBratney v Boston [1994] ATPR ¶41-355 Miller & Associates Insurance Broking Pty Ltd v BMW Australia Finance Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 357; [2010] HCA 31 Motium Pty Ltd v Arrow Electronics Australia Pty Ltd [2011] WASCA 65 Nadinic v Cheryl Drinkwater as trustee for the Cheryl Drinkwater Trust [2020] NSWCA 2 NAIS v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs (2005) 228 CLR 470; [2005] HCA 77 Norton Property Group Pty Ltd v Ozzy States Pty Ltd (in liq) [2020] NSWCA 23 Robinson v Kenny [2014] FCA 988 Roluke Pty Ltd v Lamaro Consultants Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 323 Spencer v Commonwealth of Australia (1906) 5 CLR 418; [1907] HCA 82 State of New South Wales v Stevens (2012) 82 NSWLR 106 Voli v Inglewood Shire Council (1963) 110 CLR 74; [1963] HCA 15 Wyzenbeek v Australasian Marine Imports Pty Ltd (in liq) (2019) 272 FCR 373; [2019] FCAFC 167 Texts Cited: Walmsley, Abadee, Zipser and Sirtes, Professional Liability in Australia (3rd ed, 2016, Law Book Company) at [6.1950] Category: Principal judgment Parties: Alan Morris – First Plaintiff Tania Morris – Second Plaintiff Dustin Leaney - Defendant Representation: Counsel: Plaintiffs: Mr M Gilbert (24-27 August 2020) Mr D Rayment (8, 9 and 12 February 2021)