Rees v Bethencourt & Perla [2007] NSWLC 13

Local Court of New South Wales

CITATION: Rees v Bethencourt & Perla [2007] NSWLC 13 JURISDICTION: Civil Jennifer Rees PARTIES: Luis Alberto Bethencourt Elena Perla T/as Perla & Jordan Lawyers FILE NUMBER: 4837/03 PLACE OF HEARING: Downing Centre Local Court DATE OF DECISION: 02/05/2007 MAGISTRATE: Magistrate H Dillon CATCHWORDS: Practice - Costs - Whether solicitor who commenced proceedings without retainer liable to pay defendant's costs personally - Whether test is that solicitor did not have reasonable belief in client's prospects of success - Whether tests under Uniform Procedure Rules and Division 5 of Legal Profession Act 1987 identical Civil Procedure Act 2005 s.98. Legal Profession Act 1987 ss. 198J, 198L, 198M, 198M. LEGISLATION CITED: Local Court (Civil Claims) Act 1970 s.34. Local Court (Civil Claims) Rules 1988 Pt 31A r1. Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Rule 42.3(d). Digiorgio v Dunn (No2) (2005) 62 NSWLR 284. Knaggs v JA Westaway & Sons Pty Ltd (1996) 40 NSWLR 476. CASES CITED: Leicester v Walton (NSWCA Unrep 22 Nov 1995 BC9510770). Lemoto v Able Technical Pty Ltd (2005) 63 NSWLR 300. Wentworth v Wentworth (2001) 52 NSWLR 602. Zimmerman Holdings v Wales [2002] NSWSC 447. REPRESENTATION: Mr A. Bowen (counsel) instructed by DGB Lawyers Mr P. Doyle-Gray (counsel) ORDERS: 1. Respondent to pay defendant's costs of the dismissed proceedings between Jennifer Rees and Luis Alberto Bethancourt in a sum agreed or assessed on the indemnity basis. 2. Respondent to pay the applicant's costs of disposal of the motion in a sum agreed or assessed on the indemnity basis.