Attwells v White [2023] NSWSC 314

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Attwells v White [2023] NSWSC 314 Hearing dates: 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 November 2021, 14 and 25 February 2022 and 10 and 29 March 2022 Date of orders: 31 March 2023 Decision date: 31 March 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Lonergan J Decision: (1) The notice of motion filed by the plaintiff on 9 February 2022 is dismissed with costs. (2) Verdict for the first and second defendants. (3) The plaintiff is to pay the defendants' costs of the proceedings. (4) Any alternative costs order to be sought is to be the subject of affidavit evidence and written submissions to be filed and served on or before 28 April 2023. (5) Submissions and affidavits in response to any alternative costs order are to be filed and served on or before 19 May 2023. (6) The proceedings are listed for directions at 9:00am on Tuesday 23 May 2023. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE — Breach — Duty of care — Professional Negligence — Lawyer and client — advice as to prospects of success – no negligence – no causally relevant loss – claim fails Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 Australian Consumer Law (NSW) Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Limited v Moubarek (2009) 239 CLR 420; [2009] HCA 48 Attwells v Jackson Lalic Lawyers Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1510 Attwells v Jackson Lalic Lawyers Pty Limited (2016) 259 CLR 1; [2016] HCA 16 Attwells v Marsden [2011] NSWSC 38 Attwells v White (No. 2) [2021] NSWSC 1520 Attwells v White (No. 3) [2021] NSWSC 1569 Avopiling Pty Ltd v Boevski (2018) 98 NSWLR 171; [2018] NSWCA 146 Boland v Yates Property Corporation Pty Limited (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 64 Caltex Refineries (Qld) Pty Limited v Stavar (2009) 75 NSWLR 649; [2009] NSWCA 258 De Giorgio v Dunn (No 2) (2005) 62 NSWLR 284; [2005] NSWSC 3 Donnellan v Woodland [2012] NSWCA 433 Heydon v NRMA Ltd (2000) 51 NSWLR 1; [2000] NSWCA 374 Jackson Lalic Lawyers Pty Limited v Attwells [2014] NSWCA 335 March v Stramare (E & MH) Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506; [1991] HCA 12. Newell; Muriniti v De Costi (2018) 97 NSWLR 398; [2018] NSWCA 49 Potts v Miller (1940) 64 CLR 282; [1940] HCA 43 Rosenberg v Percival (2001) 205 CLR 434; [2001] HCA 18 Travel Compensation Fund v Tambree (2005) 224 CLR 627; [2005] HCA 69 Wallace v Kam (2013) 250 CLR 375; [2013] HCA 19 Woodland v Donnellan [2011] NSWSC 777 United Church in Australia Property Trust NSW v Miller (2015) 91 NSWLR 752; [2015] NSWCA 320 Urban Transport Authority of NSW v Nweiser (1992) 28 NSWLR 471 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Noel Bruce Attwells (Plaintiff) Gary Alan White (First Defendant) John Kelly (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R Newell, Solicitor (Plaintiff) A Horvath SC / A Girgis (First Defendant) I Griscti (Second Defendant)