Richardson & Anor v McKinnon [2001] NSWSC 388

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Richardson & Anor v McKinnon [2001] NSWSC 388 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Common Law FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20181/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 21, 22 & 23 November 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 16 May 2001

John Herbert Richardson (First Plaintiff)

PARTIES : Judith Richardson (Second Plaintiff)

Robert Munro McKinnon (Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Master Harrison

Mr R McKeand with COUNSEL : Ms C Morris (Plaintiffs)

Mr K Tapsell of Watkins Tapsell SOLICITORS : (Defendant)

Warren McKeon Dickson (Plaintiffs) CATCHWORDS : Separate determination of issues - liability - causation - professional negligence - drafting of sublease Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act LEGISLATION CITED : Fair Trading Act Contracts Review Act Astley & Ors v Austrust Limited (1998-99) 197 CLR 1 Voli v Inglewood Shire Council (1963) 110 CLR 74 Wheeldon v Burrows (1879) 12 ChD 31 Wenham v Ella (1972) 127 CLR 454 CASES CITED : Chappel v Hart [1998] HCA 55; (1998) 195 CLR 232 Froom v Butcher [1976] QB 286 Gunning v Fellows (1997) 25 MVR 97 Pennington v Norris (1956) 96 CLR 10 Sungravure Pty Limited v Meani (1964) 110 CLR 24 DECISION : I make the following findings:; (1) The defendant was negligent and breached his retainer when he drafted the sublease to give two different descriptions of the demised premises. Both the defendant's negligence and breach of contract caused the plaintiffs to suffer damage assessed as the costs expended in a construction or rectification suit in this court. This amount is to be quantified at a future date.; The court orders:; (2) The costs of the hearing before Master Harrison are reserved.