Rodny v Weisbord [2024] NSWCA 183

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Rodny v Weisbord [2024] NSWCA 183 Hearing dates: 4 July 2024 Date of orders: 30 July 2024 Decision date: 30 July 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; Stern JA at [10]; Basten AJA at [14] Decision: (1) Allow the appeals in matter 2015/324966 (Joel Weisbord) and in matter 2015/324977 (Alexander Weisbord) and in each matter set aside order 2 entered on 15 December 2023. (2) In place of those orders, in each matter order that the plaintiff be paid an amount of $700,000 from the estate of Rose Rodny (deceased). (3) In matter 2015/324982 (Jeannette Weisbord) refuse the executor leave to appeal from the refusal of the primary judge to award indemnity costs. (4) Order that the respondents' costs in this Court, assessed on the ordinary basis, be paid from the estate. (5) Order that the appellant's costs in this Court, assessed on an indemnity basis, be paid from the estate. Catchwords: STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – literal meaning gives way to contextual and purposive approach – powers of court – "at the time the order is made" – Succession Act 2006 (NSW), s 59(2) SUCCESSION – family provision – evidence – whether primary judge erred in failing to require the claimants to provide updating evidence –– whether Succession Act 2006 (NSW), s 59(2), required claimants to file updating evidence – evidence was over five years old – judge subsequently accepted updated valuation of the estate – impact of delay on assessment of provision SUCCESSION – family provision – claim by grandchildren for provision from deceased's estate –weight to be given to deceased's testamentary intentions – intentions expressed in unexecuted will – passage of 16 years – evidence of applicants' financial circumstances and needs lacking currency COSTS – requirement for leave to appeal – offer of compromise before first trial – order sought for indemnity costs – failure to challenge costs order on prior appeal – offer contained no real compromise Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), Pt 6 Succession Act 2006 (NSW), Pt 3.2, ss 57, 59, 60 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 36.16(3A) Cases Cited: Baker v Baker [2024] NSWSC 559 Blendell v Blendell; Blendell v Blendell [2020] NSWCA 154 Bohen v Mitchelmore [2024] NSWSC 171 Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 275 Chapple v Wilcox (2014) 87 NSWLR 646; [2014] NSWCA 392 Langdon v Carnival PLC [2024] NSWCA 168 Leach v The Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd) (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 391 Rodny v Weisbord [2020] NSWCA 22 Sreckovic v Sreckovic [2018] NSWSC 1597 Steinmetz v Shannon (2019) 99 NSWLR 687; [2019] NSWCA 114 Weisbord v Rodny [2018] NSWSC 1866 Weisbord v Rodny [2020] HCASL 191 Weisbord v Rodny (No 2) [2019] NSWSC 739 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Laurence Rodny (Appellant) Joel Weisbord (First Respondent) Alexander Weisbord (Second Respondent) Jeannette Weisbord (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: L Ellison SC / O Bellhouse-Smith (Appellant) V Culkoff (First to Third Respondents)