CAMERON v CAMPBELL PATON & TAYLOR [2009] NSWSC 121

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : CAMERON v CAMPBELL PATON & TAYLOR [2009] NSWSC 121

HEARING DATE(S) : 5 March 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 12 March 2009

JURISDICTION : Common Law Division

JUDGMENT OF : Kirby J

(1) The appeal is allowed. (2) The order of the Court below made on 10 October 2008 is set aside. DECISION : (3) The judgment entered on behalf of the solicitors on 23 July 2008 is set aside. (4) Mr and Mrs Cameron are to file and serve a defence within 28 days. (5) The solicitors should pay the costs of Mr and Mrs Cameron on this summons.

CATCHWORDS : Civil Law - appeal from Local Court - recovery of legal fees - interference with discretion of Court below - refusal by Magistrate to set aside default judgment - Lawyers - duties and liabilities - costs disclosure - who is the client.

Legal Profession Act 1987 LEGISLATION CITED : Local Courts Act 1982 Evidence Act 1995 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Regina v Cameron [2005] NSWCCA 359; (2005) 157 A Crim R 70 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Cohen v McWilliam (1995) 38 NSWLR 476 CASES CITED : Grimshaw v Dunbar [1953] 1 QB 408 Adams v Kennick Trading (International) Ltd (1986) 4 NSWLR 503 Apple v Wily [2002] NSWSC 855 Hawksford v Hawksford [2008] NSWSC 31 Maxwell v Chittick (unreported, NSWCA, 23.8.94)

TEXTS CITED : Ritchie's Supreme Court Procedure District Court Practice (1985)

Allan CAMERON (1st Pl) PARTIES : Brenda CAMERON (2nd Pl) Bradford Frederick McInnes STUART, Ian Thomas MacMICKING, Timothy Giles DALLA, Shu Fan (Fiona) PIGOT, Mason Richard MANWARING and Andrew KERMODE trading as CAMPBELL PATON & TAYLOR (Defs)