Kalfus v Middleton [1999] NSWSC 577

New South Wales Supreme Court CITATION : Kalfus v Middleton [1999] NSWSC 577 CURRENT JURISDICTION : Common Law FILE NUMBER(S) : 012978/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 25 May 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 11 June 1999

PARTIES : Marcel Kalfus t/as Marcel Kalfus & Co. v Sydney Middleton JUDGMENT OF : Bell J at 1

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Local Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 3703/95 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER : Morahan LCM

COUNSEL : Appellant: Mr. G. Sirtes Respondent: Mr. R. Freeman SOLICITORS : Appellant: Mallesons Stephen Jaques Respondent: Brock Partners CATCHWORDS : Local Court - Stated Case - (Local Courts (Civil Claims) Act 1970 (NSW) s 69(2); Strata Titles - common property; Negligence - proceedings inappropriately commenced on advice of solicitors ACTS CITED : Local Courts (Civil Claims) Act 1970 Strata Titles Act 1973 Burcchard v Holroyd Municipal Council & Ors. (unreported, NSWSC, 16/1/84) CASES CITED : Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) P/L (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Glover v McDougall (1976) 2 NSWLR 359 DECISION : See para. 23

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES COMMON LAW DIVISION

BELL J

Friday, 11 June 1999

012978/98 - MARCEL KALFUS t/as MARCEL KALFUS & CO. v SYDNEY MIDDLETON

JUDGMENT

1 HER HONOUR: This is a case stated by Mr Morahan, Magistrate, pursuant to s.69(2) of the Local Courts (Civil Claims) Act 1970. Before the Local Court the respondent to the present proceedings, Sydney Middleton, sued the appellant, Marcel Kalfus t/as Marcel Kalfus & Co., for damages for negligence. The Magistrate ordered the appellant to pay to the respondent the sum of $10,899.00 by way of damages. 2 The facts as determined by the Magistrate are as follows: