Philip Walton trading as Pitcher Walton & Co v Efato Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 86

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Philip Walton trading as Pitcher Walton & Co v Efato Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 86

HEARING DATE(S): 31 March 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 7 May 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; Giles JA at 2; Tobias JA at 3

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs

CATCHWORDS: Negligence – Legal Practitioners – Solicitor – Failure to exercise reasonable care and skill – Immunity from suit – Work out of court concerning conduct of case – Damages – Whether losses sustained were reasonably foreseeable - Contract – Legal Practitioners – Solicitor – Breach of implied term of retainer – Whether loss or damage not unlikely to flow from breach

LEGISLATION CITED: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 459C, s 459E, s 459G, s 459H, s 459P and s 459S

Alexander v Cambridge Credit Corporation Ltd (1987) 9 NSWLR 310 Burns v M.A.N. Automative (Aust) Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 653 Castellan v Electric Power Transmission Pty Ltd (1967) 69 SR (NSW) 159 Chief Commissioner of Stamp Duties v Paliflex [1999] NSWSC 15 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 D'Orta Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid (2005) 223 CLR 1 Dansar Pty Ltd v Pagotto [2008] NSWSC 112 David Grant & Co Pty Ltd (Receiver appointed) v Westpac Banking Corporation (1995) 184 CLR 265 Giannarelli & Ors v Wraith & Ors (1988) 165 CLR 543 CASES CITED: Hadley v Baxendale (1854) 9 Ex 341; 156 ER 145 Heenan v Di Sisto & Ors [2008] NSWCA 25 Kenny & Good v MGICA (1999) 199 CLR 413 Koufos v C Czarnikow Ltd [1969] 1 AC 350 Master Paving Pty Ltd v Heading Contractors Pty Ltd (1997) 15 ACLC 1025 Multicon Engineering Pty Ltd v Federal Airports Corporation (1997) 47 NSWLR 631 Solarite Air Conditioning Pty Ltd v York International Australia Pty Ltd (2002) NSWSC 411 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No. 2) (1985) 59 ALJR 481; 60 ALR 68 Wenham v Ella (1972) 127 CLR 454 Wilson v Carter [2005] NSWSC 1351