Patterson & Anor v Mamou (t/as De Novo Conveyancing) [2024] NSWDC 47

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Patterson & Anor v Mamou (t/as De Novo Conveyancing) [2024] NSWDC 47 Hearing dates: 20, 21 February 2024; Supplementary written submissions received on 27 February 2024 Date of orders: 01 March 2024 Decision date: 01 March 2024 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraph [197] Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE – professional negligence – purchasers acquire residential property – property is subject to unauthorised works – purchasers claim against their conveyancer – conveyancer's alleged failure to disclose special condition in contract concerning unauthorised works – whether special condition was disclosed – whether breach of duty – whether s 5O of Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) determines standard of care and, if not, whether it remains relevant – conveyancer recommended purchasers obtain building inspection report – building inspector omits reference to defective nature of the works on the property – purchasers claim estimated rectification costs for defects – whether harm sustained – whether factual causation established – consideration of scope of liability DAMAGES – proportionate liability – whether conduct of two tortfeasors caused the same damage – whether reinstatement costs appropriate measure of damages – whether failure to mitigate Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5O, 34, 35, 38 Conveyancing Licensing Regulations 2015 (NSW) Cases Cited: Alcan Gove Pty Ltd v Zabic (2015) 257 CLR 1 Arsalan v Rixon; Nguyen v Cassim (2021) 274 CLR 606 Badenach v Calvert (2016) 257 CLR 440 Benson v MacLachlan t/as Sterling Conveyancers (2002) NSW ConvR 55-995 Bevan Investments Ltd v Blackhall & Struthers (No.2) [1978] 2 NZLR 97 D Capital 2 Pty Ltd v Western [2022] NSWSC 1064 Elayoubi v Zipser [2008] NSWCA 335 Hawkins v Clayton (1988) 164 CLR 539 Hudson Investment Group Ltd v Atanaskovic (2014) 311 ALR 290 Hunt & Hunt Lawyers v Mitchell Morgan Nominees Pty Ltd (2013) 247 CLR 613 Joseph v Harvest Grain Co (1996) 39 NSWLR 722 Livingstone v Mitchell [2007] NSWSC 1477 Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd (1985) 156 CLR 522 March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 Monaghan Surveyors Pty Ltd v Stratford Glen-Avon Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 94 Neal v Ambulance Service (NSW) [2008] NSWCA 346 Oates v Anthony Pitman & Co [1998] PNLR 683 Paul v Cooke (2013) 85 NSWLR 167 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith (2015) 90 NSWLR 1 Perpetual Trustee Company Pty Ltd v Ishak [2012] NSWSC 679 Potts v Miller (1940) 64 CLR 282 PPK Willoughby Pty Ltd v Baird [2021] NSWCA 312 Provident Capital Limited v Papa [2013] NSWCA 36 Reinhold v NSW Lotteries Corporation (No. 2) (2008) 82 NSWLR 762 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330 Sherson & Associates Pty Ltd v Bailey (2001) Aust Torts Rep 81-591 Shoalhaven City Council v Pender [2013] NSWCA 2010 South Western Sydney Local Health District v Gould (2018) 97 NSWLR 513 Strong v Woolworths (2012) 246 CLR 182 Sved v Council of the Municipality of Woollahra (1995) 86 LGERA 222 Symond v Gadens Lawyers Sydney Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 955 Tabet v Gett (2010) 240 CLR 537 Talacko v Talacko (2021) 272 CLR 478 Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158 Texts Cited: H Luntz & S Harder, Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury & Death (5th ed, 2021 LexisNexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr Gary Patterson (First Plaintiff) Ms Rachael McGregor (Second Plaintiff) Ms Nadiah Mamou trading as De Novo Conveyancing (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: T Kent (First and Second Plaintiff) T Catanzariti (Defendant)