James v Hill [2004] NSWCA 301

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : James v Hill [2004] NSWCA 301 revised - 22/09/2004 HEARING DATE(S) : 29 July 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 17 September 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Hodgson JA at 2; Tobias JA at 3 DECISION : (a) Appeal of the first appellant allowed in part; (b) Appeal of the second appellant dismissed; (c) Set aside Order 1 made by Bergin J on 26 February 2004; (d) The respondent pay 60% of the first appellant's costs of the appeal but to have a certificate under the Suitor's Fund Act 1951 if otherwise qualified; (e) The first cross-appeal be dismissed; (f) The cross-appellant pay the first cross-respondent's costs of the first cross-appeal; (g) The second cross-appeal be dismissed; (h) The cross-appellants pay the cross-respondent's costs of the second cross-appeal

CATCHWORDS : Contracts - Election - Seeking specific performance - Damages - Exemplary damages - Victim's own wrongdoing - Un-associated third party - Analogy to 'clean hands' - Mitigation - Damages - Exemplary damages - Solicitor assists wrongdoer - Reprehensibility of conduct - Increased when occurs in legal practice - Professional disciplinary hearing - Double punishment - Equity - Relief against forfeiture - Deposit - Unconscionable conduct - Connection and causation - Whether penalty LEGISLATION CITED : Nil Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 196 CLR 1 Lamb v Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR 1 Ciavarella v Balmer (1983) 153 CLR 438 Tanwar Enterprises Pty Ltd v Cauci [2003] 77 ALJR 1853 CASES CITED : Romanos v Pentagold Investments Pty Ltd (2003) 77 ALJR 1882 Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd (1974) 131 CLR 634 XL Petroleum (NSW) Pty Ltd v Caltex Oil Australia Pty Ltd (1985) 155 CLR 448 Harris v Digital Pulse Pty Limited (2003) 56 NSWLR 298 Dewhirst v Edwards [1983] 1NSWLR 34 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (No 2) (2003) 57 NSWCA 338 David Anthony James PARTIES : David George Brooks Terry Donald Hill FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40170/04 COUNSEL : A: C R C Newlinds SC / D A Allen R: M R Aldridge SC / R Glasson SOLICITORS : A: Catalyst Partners, Newcastle R: Eddy & Moloney, Paddington