Thomas v Adam [2000] NSWCA 127

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Thomas v Adam [2000] NSWCA 127 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40723/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 14 April 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 16 May 2000

Kay Thomas (Appellant) PARTIES : v Thomas Laurie Adam t/as Cunningham & Adam (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Heydon JA at 2; Davies AJA at 3

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT 4284/97 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Murphy ADCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : A: Mr M R Aldridge SC & Mr G J L Scragg R: Mr D Davies SC & Mr N A Nicholls SOLICITORS : A: The Hargreaves Practice R: Turtons CATCHWORDS : Torts - Professional Negligence - settlement of land purchase - solicitor's failure to make contract conditional upon the variation of a restriction on use - solicitor's delay - increased building costs and other expenses - whether damages resulted from the solicitor's negligence - Damages - distinction between damages for professional negligence and damages for breach of warranty LEGISLATION CITED : Conveyancing Act 1919, s88B Legal Profession Act 1987 Pennant Hills Restaurants Pty Ltd v Barrell Insurances Pty Ltd (1981) 145 CLR 625 Gates v City Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 1 Kyriakou v Hughes (1984) Aust Torts Rep 80-646 Ford v White & Co (1964) 1 WLR 885 CASES CITED: Sved v The Council of the Municipality of Woollahra (1995) NSW ConvR 55-736 Re J.R.L.; Ex parte C.J.L. (1986) 161 CLR 342 Dovade Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Group (1999) 46 NSWLR 168 Gascor v Ellicott [1997] 1 VR 332 Locabail (UK) Ltd v Bayfield Properties Ltd [2000] 1 All ER 65 DECISION : Dismissed with costs.