Metcash Trading Ltd v Hourigan's IGA Umina Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 683

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Metcash Trading Ltd v Hourigan's IGA Umina Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 683 HEARING DATE(S) : 30/06/03; 01/07/03; 02/07/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 30 July 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity Division JUDGMENT OF : Young CJ in Eq DECISION : Cross claimants' proceedings against solicitor for negligence and related claims fail.

CATCHWORDS : PROFESSIONS [84]- Lawyers- Solicitor's negligence- Whether solicitor for purchaser where contract contains pre-emption clause liable if solicitor does not take pains to see client remembers restriction- Whether same solicitor acting on resale must remember clause- Whether solicitor should ensure client has copy of vital documents- How far Fair Trading Act 1987 relates to solicitors' negligence cases. LEGISLATION CITED : Fair Trading Act 1987, ss 4(4), 42(1) Argy v Blunts & Lane Cove Real Estate Pty Ltd (1990) 26 FCR 112 Boland v Yates Property Corporation Pty Ltd (1999) 167 ALR 575 Bond Corporation Pty Ltd v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd (1987) 14 FCR 215 Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 77 ALJR 183 CASES CITED : Helco Pty Ltd v O'Hare (1991) 28 FCR 230 Kyriacou v Kogarah MC (1995) 88 LGERA 110 Macindoe v Parbery (1994) 6 BPR 13,483 Peninsula Balmain Pty Ltd v Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 211 Rhone-Poulenc Agrochimie SA v UIM Chemical Services Pty Ltd (1986) 68 ALR 77 Semrani v Manoun [2001] NSWCA 337 Metcash Trading Limited (P1) Jewel Food Stores Pty Limited (P2) Hourigan's IGA Umina Pty Limited (D1) Peter John Hourigan (D2) PARTIES : John Hourigan (D3) Mark Hourigan (D4) Bi-Lo Pty Limited (D5) Coles Myer Property Developments Limited (D6) KLVC Pty Limited (D7) Anthony Farquhar (D8) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2278/03 COUNSEL : R Dubler (D1 to D4/Cross Claimants) M Cashion SC (D8/Cross Defendant) SOLICITORS : Watson Mangioni (D1 to D4/Cross Claimants) Dibbs Barker Gosling (D8/Cross Defendant)