Bolton v Atanaskovic Hartnell [2024] NSWSC 833

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Bolton v Atanaskovic Hartnell [2024] NSWSC 833 Hearing dates: 29 May 2024 Date of orders: 11 July 2024 Decision date: 11 July 2024 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Faulkner J Decision: (1) To the extent necessary, time for the plaintiff to file the Summons be extended to the date on which the Summons was filed. (2) Summons dismissed. (3) The plaintiff pay the defendant's costs. Catchwords: COSTS – costs assessment – costs agreement between solicitor and principal of corporate client – associated third party payor – effect of non-disclosure – costs agreement void – whether solicitor nonetheless entitled to be paid for legal services provided to the client – Legal Profession Uniform Law 2014 (NSW) s 171(1); s 178(1) COSTS – costs assessment – time to appeal to the Court under UCPR 50.3 – material date for determination by costs review panel under UCPR 50.2 – extension of time Legislation Cited: Legal Profession Act 1987 (NSW) Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law 2014 (NSW) ss 6(1), 171(1), 172, 174, 176, 178(1)(a), 180, 181, 182(1), 195(1) Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW) s 89 Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Regulation 2015 (NSW) cl 54 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 75A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 14.12, 50.1, 50.2, 50.3 Cases Cited: Allesch v Maunz [2000] HCA 40 Anderson v Hill [2017] NSWSC 1149 Bevan v Bingham [2022] NSWSC 863 Bingham v Bevan (2023) 111 NSWLR 287; [2023] NSWCA 86 Branson v Tucker [2012] NSWCA 310 Carkeek v Aubrey F Crawley & Co [2024] NSWSC 86 Champion Homes Sales Pty Limited v DCT Projects Pty Limited [2015] NSWSC 616 Johnson v Leader Computers Pty Ltd [2014] SASCFC 14; (2014) 118 SASR 408 Lumbers v W Cook Builders Pty Ltd (2008) 232 CLR 635; [2008] HCA 27 Nikolic v Oladaily Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 252 Pavey & Matthews Pty Ltd v Paul (1987) 162 CLR 221 Paynter v Williams (1833) 149 ER 626; 1 Cr & M 809 Wentworth v Rogers [2006] NSWCA 145 Texts Cited: K Lewison and D Hughes, The Interpretation of Contracts in Australia (2012, Thomson Reuters) at 6.16 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Nicholas Francis John Bolton (Plaintiff) John Ljubomir Atanaskovic and Lawson Andrew Jepps trading as Atanaskovic Hartnell (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: E A Walker (Plaintiff) D Robertson (Defendant)