David v David [2009] NSWCA 8

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: David v David [2009] NSWCA 8

HEARING DATE(S): 9 December 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 12 February 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Allsop P at 1; Hodgson JA at 104; Handley AJA at 105

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: LEGAL PRACTITIONERS – Solicitors – duty to clients – asserted breach of retainer– fiduciary duty – conflict of interest - retainer for refinancing mortgage documents – whether solicitor should decline to act when become aware of destination of funds - TORTS – NEGLIGENCE – duty of care – whether solicitor has duty of care to third persons not clients of the solicitor to undertake steps contrary to the interests of the solicitor's client - MISLEADING AND DECEPTIVE CONDUCT - Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) – Solicitor distributing investments contracts under instructions of client – nature representations made in investment contract – s 42

Corporations Law LEGISLATION CITED: Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Al-Kandari v J R Brown & Co [1988] 1 All ER 833 Astley v Austrust Ltd [1999] HCA 6; 197 CLR 1 Beach Petroleum NL v Kennedy & Ors (1999) 48 NSWSLR 1 Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1833; 117 FCR 424 Citicorp Australia Ltd v O'Brien (1996) 40 NSWLR 398 Clark Boyce v Mouat [1994] 1 AC 428 CASES CITED: Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 Heydon v NRMA Ltd [2000] NSWCA 374; 51 NSWLR 1 Hill v Van Erp (1997) 188 CLR 159 Karl Suleman Enterprizes Pty Ltd (In Liq) v Babanour [2004] NSWCA 214; 49 ACSR 612 Kowalczuk v Accom Finance Pty Limited [2008] NSWCA 343 Perre v Apand [1999] HCA 36; 198 CLR 180 Waimond Pty Ltd v Byrne (1989) 18 NSWLR 642