Odlum v Friend & Anor [2022] NSWSC 574

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Odlum v Friend & Anor [2022] NSWSC 574 Hearing dates: 28 and 31 March 2022 1 and 4 April 2022 Date of orders: 12 May 2022 Decision date: 12 May 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Cavanagh J Decision: (1) Judgment for the first and second defendants. (2) I order the plaintiff to pay the defendants' costs. (3) I grant liberty to apply should any party seek a variation on the costs order. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE — Breach — Standard of care — Professional negligence — Lawyer and client — Advice about settlement — Costs consequences Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Property (Relationships) Act 1984 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attwells v Jackson Lalic Lawyers Pty Limited (2016) 259 CLR 1; [2016] HCA 16 Bowling v Bowling [2011] NSWSC 1168 Donnellan v Woodland [2012] NSWCA 433; [2012] NSW ConvR 56-307 Kendirjian v Lepore (2017) 259 CLR 275; [2017] HCA 13 Lavars v Gillis and Ors [2022] NSWSC 13 Odlum v Friend & Anor [2021] NSWSC 577 Studer v Boettcher [2000] NSWCA 263 Tapp v Australian Bushmen's Campdraft & Rodeo Association Limited (2022) 96 AJLR 337; [2022] HCA 11 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Judith Anne Odlum (Plaintiff) Stephen James Friend trading as Friend and Co Lawyers (First Defendant) Andrew James Paterson (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Lloyd SC with G Marsden (First Defendant) C Webster SC (Second Defendant)