Fleming v Segal [2002] NSWSC 42

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Fleming v Segal [2002] NSWSC 42 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Common Law Division Professional Negligence List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20237/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 24/09/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 14 February 2002

PARTIES : Brian William Fleming v Alan Lewis Segal JUDGMENT OF : Howie J at 1

COUNSEL : T. Lynch - Plaintiff D. Davis SC - Defendant SOLICITORS : Hunt & Hunt, Lawyers - Plaintiff Ebsworth & Ebsworth, Lawyers - Defendant CATCHWORDS : Limitation of Actions - Application of statute - When time begins to run - Tort - Professional negligence - Solicitor - Failure to discover defect in title - Rectification of contract for sale - Damage accrued when rectification no longer available. LEGISLATION CITED : Limitation Act 1969 - s 14 Real Property Act 1900 - s 127(1) Smouha v Fleming (NSWSC, Hodgson J, 20 May 1997) Fleming v Segal [2001] NSWSC 754 Wardley Australia Limited v State of Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 Scarcella v Lettice (2000) 51 NSWLR 302 Cartledge v E. Jopling & Sons Limited [1963] AC 758 Hawkinsv Clayton (1988) 164 CLR 539 Registrar-General v Cleaver (1996) 41 NSWLR 713 CASES CITED : Maralinga Pty Ltd v Major Enterprises Pty Ltd (1973) 128 CLR 336 Doundoulakis v Antony Sdrinis & Co. [1989] VR 781 Cheney v Duncan [2001] NSWCA 197 Christopoulos v Angelos (1996) 41 NSWLR 700 Australian Gypsum Ltd and Plaster Co. Ltd v Hume Steel Ltd (1930) 45 CLR 54 Commision for the New Towns v Cooper [1995] Ch 259 Bush v National Bank Ltd (1992) 35 NSWLR 390 Mackenzie v Coulson (1869) LR 8 Eq 368 DECISION : The defence based upon the Act fails and is dismissed.