The Estate of Alberto Magri (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1779

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Estate of Alberto Magri (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1779 Hearing dates: 30 June 2022 Date of orders: 22 December 2022 Decision date: 22 December 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Henry J Decision: Probate in solemn form of will made on 20 August 2015 of Alberto Magri granted to the First Defendant/Cross Claimant and First Amended Statement of Claim filed on 13 May 2022 dismissed. See [129] Catchwords: SUCCESSION – contested probate – principles for grant of probate in solemn form – where probate on common form granted – where will gives equal share of deceased's estate to former spouse and six children – where issue raised by a beneficiary about authenticity of will and whether original provided for probate - whether the will was duly executed and last valid original will of the deceased– consideration of value of deceased's estate and disputed expenses – grant of probate in solemn form CIVIL PROCEDURE – where hearing proceeded in absence of plaintiff – where no evidence read in support of plaintiff's claims – where claims made by the plaintiff lack merit – plaintiff's amended statement of claim dismissed COSTS – whether ordinary or indemnity costs should be ordered – Calderbank offers – whether unreasonable to not accept Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Cabport Pty Ltd v Marinchek (No 2) [2013] NSWCA 131 Calderbank v Calderbank [1975] 3 All ER 333 Estate Kouvakas; Lucas v Konakas [2014] NSWSC 786 I L Pardey & Ors v A W Pardey [2017] NSWSC 1413 Kazal v Independent Commission Against Corruption (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 17 Lezaja v Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd (No 2) [2016] NSWSC 167 Magjarraj v Asteron Life Limited [2009] NSWSC 1433 Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantan Properties Pte Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 344 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72; [1998] HCA 11 Re Hodges; Shorter v Hodges (1988) 14 NSWLR 698 Re Levy (deceased) [1953] VLR 652 Re the Estate of Hodges; Shorter v Hodges (1988) 14 NSWLR 698 Robertson v Barker [2021] NSWSC 1682 Shorten v Shorten (No 2) [2003] NSWCA 60 The Estate of Alberto Magri [2022] NSWSC 873 Vink v Tuckwell (No 3) (2008) 67 ACSR 547; [2008] VSC 316 Walker v Harwood [2017] NSWCA 228 Watson v Hannover Life Re of Australasia Ltd [2018] NSWSC 877 Texts Cited: G E Dal Pont, Law of Succession (3rd ed, 2021, LexisNexis) Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure NSW (2002, LexisNexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Erica Magri (Plaintiff; self-represented)