Wittenberg v Gillis and Ors [2022] NSWSC 287

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Wittenberg v Gillis and Ors [2022] NSWSC 287 Hearing dates: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22 August 2019; 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 November 2019; 23 May 2020 (further written submissions) Date of orders: 25 March 2022 Decision date: 25 March 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: (1) Judgment for each defendant against the plaintiff; (2) The plaintiff to pay the defendants' costs; (3) Liberty to apply on a date to be arranged with my associate. Catchwords: TORTS – professional negligence – legal advice relating to accepting or rejecting offers to compromise proceedings for recovery of employee entitlements and damages – advice to bring proceedings involving fraud and related issues – plaintiffs ultimately successful at trial on limited issues – judgment entered less than offers made – adverse costs orders where fraud claims unfounded – whether advice accorded with standard of reasonable care – quantum of loss – loss of opportunity Legislation Cited: Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 52, 82 Cases Cited: Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Giannarelli v Wraith (1988) 165 CLR 543; [1988] HCA 52 Kendirjian v Lepore (2017) 259 CLR 275; [2017] HCA 13 Lavars v Gillis [2022] NSWSC 13 Lawson v Gillis [2022] NSWSC 185 Murphy v Gillis [2022] NSWSC 184 Murphy v Westpac Banking Corporation [2014] FCA 1104 Murphy v Westpac Banking Corporation (No 2) [2015] FCA 266 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332; [1994] HCA 4 Studer v Boettcher [2000] NSWCA 263 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 223 CLR 422; [2005] HCA 62 Westpac Banking Corporation v Wittenberg (2016) 242 FCR 505; [2016] FCAFC 33 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Corey Wittenberg (Plaintiff)