Reynolds Jeanette v Whittens and Reynolds Stuart v Whittens [2002] NSWSC 155

Reported Decision : (2003) 57 NSWLR 271

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Reynolds Jeanette v Whittens and Reynolds Stuart v Whittens [2002] NSWSC 155 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 12335/99 and 12336/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 18,19,20,23,27/10/00; 3/11/00; 6/12/00; 21/4/01;10,11,12,28/9/01; 26/11/01;7/12/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 7 March 2002

PARTIES : Jeanette Reynolds v Whittens and Stuart Reynolds v Whittens JUDGMENT OF : O'Keefe J

COUNSEL : Mr M J Heath; Mr F Pesman- plaintiff Mr M Galvin - defendant Fallon Safetly Lawyers, Sydney - plaintiff Brian Muir & Company, Sydney - plaintiff SOLICITORS : Plaintiff appeared for herself and Mr Reynolds on occasions

Whittens, Sydney - defendant CATCHWORDS : Costs - Assessment of bills of costs - Appeal from assessment - Nature of appeals - Test for granting leave to appeal - Meaning of "must", "may", "is to" - Effect of breach of s.177 of Legal Profession Act 1987 - Conditional costs agreements - Premium payable where cost contingent on successful outcome - Negligence alleged because of use of employed solicitor - Inadvertent mathematical errors in bill do not vitiate bill - Correction of inadvertent mathematical errors in bill - Application to reopen after judgment reserved - Procedure - Factors to consider Legal Profession Act 1987 ss 175, 176, 177, 178, 183, 187, 199, 200, 201, 206 (2), 207, 208, 208A, 208B, 208C, 208D, 208E, 208 JB, 208L, 208M, 208P LEGISLATION CITED : Criminal Procedure Act 1986 ss 34A, 35, 36 Conveyancing Act 1919 s 66G Busuttil v Holder (1996) NSWSC 9 August 1996, unreported. Director of Public Prosecutions v Sinton 2000 NSWSC 473 Director of Public Prosecutions v Sinton (2001) 51 NSWLR 659 Ward v Williams (1953) 19 LGR 190 Ward v Williams (1954-1955) 92 CLR 496 Julius v Lord Bishop of Oxford (1880) 5 app.Cas. 214 Smith v Watson (1906) 4 CLR 802 Re Jackson and The Conveyancing Act (1951) 52 SR (NSW) 42 CASES CITED : Re Fettell (1951) 52 SR (NSW) 221 Associated Provincial Picture House Limited v Wednesbury Corporation (1948) 1 KB 223 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Urban Transport Authority v Nweiser (1991) 28 NSWLR 471 Joyce v GIO (NSW) (Ritchies Supreme Court Procedure, NSW, Vol 2 [13028] Supreme Court NSW 21 July 1976 Henning v Lynch (1974) 2 NSWLR 254 Brown v Petranker (1991) 22 NSWLR 717 Re Synanovic's application [2001] HCA 40, unreported 11 July 2001 Planet Build (NSW) Pty Ltd v Lassgol Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSA 40, Unreported 19 February 2001 Magenta Nominees Pty Ltd v Webb 2000 18 Leg Rep SL2 (27 October 2000) DECISION : Each summons dismissed with costs.