DJZ Constructions Pty Ltd v Paul Pritchard trading as Pritchard Law Group and Ors [2010] NSWSC 1024

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : DJZ Constructions Pty Ltd v Paul Pritchard trading as Pritchard Law Group and Ors [2010] NSWSC 1024

HEARING DATE(S) : 10 March 2009, 11 March 2009, 12 March 2009, 13 March 2009, 29 April 2010, 30 April 2010, 3 May 2010, 4 May 2010, 5 May 2010, 7 May 2010, 10 May 2010, 11 May 2010

JUDGMENT DATE : 10 September 2010

JUDGMENT OF : Schmidt J

CATCHWORDS : PROFESSIONS AND TRADES - lawyers - duties and liabilities - whether negligence in advising client in relation to guarantee in deed under which interest in real estate business acquired - in relation to terms of second deed settling certain disputes - in relation to agreement selling interest in business - nature of duty of care - duty of care owed - negligence established in part - questions of credit - advocate's immunity - section 5O of the Civil Liability Act 2002 - causal connection - inherent risk and contributory negligence - s 5I and s 5R of the Civil Liability Act 2002 - contributory negligence established - cross claim - concurrent wrongdoers - negligence established - were damages established - claimed damages established in part - TORTS - negligence - general matters - lawyers negligence - damages - EVIDENCE - admissibility and relevancy - witness not available for cross examination - s 135 of the Evidence Act 1995 - statements received - admissions - s 87 of the Evidence Act 1995 - admissions not established

Evidence Act 1995 LEGISLATION CITED : Civil Liability Act 2002 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 1946 Trade Practice Act 1974 (Cth)

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Attard v James Legal Pty Limited [2009] NSWSC 811 Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare [1992] HCA 27; (1992) 176 CLR 408 Capebay Holdings Pty Ltd v Sands [2002] WASC 287; [2003] ANZ ConvR 170 Capital Brake Service Pty Limited v Meagher & 8 Ors t/as Sparke Helmore [2003] NSWCA 225 David v David [2009] NSWCA 8 Dean v Allin & Watts [2001] 1 Lloyd's Rep 249 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12; (2005) 223 CLR 1 Dobler v Halverson [2007] NSWCA 335; (2007) 70 NSWLR 151 Fox v Everingham and Anor (1983) 50 ALR 337 Giannarelli v Wraith [1988] HCA 52; (1988) 165 CLR 543 Hawkins v Clayton [1988] HCA 15; 164 CLR 539; Waimond Pty Ltd v Byrne, Heydon v NRMA Limited (1989) 18 NSWLR 642 Ingot Capital Investments Pty Ltd v Macquarie Equity Capital Markets Ltd (no 4) [2006] NSWSC 90 James & Ors v Surf Road Nominees Pty Ltd & Ors [2004] NSWCA 475 Lucantonio v Kleinet [2009] NSWSC 853 Macindoe and Anor v Parbery (1994) Aust Torts Reports 81-290 at 61,534 Murphy v Miller [1998] NSWCA 150 CASES CITED : Nikolaou v Papsavas Phillips & Co [1984] HCA 11; (1989) 166 CLR 394 Ordukaya v Hicks [2000] NSWCA 180 Pegrum and Pegrum v Fatharly [1996] 14 WAR 92 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; (1985) 54 ALR 529 Rogers v Whitaker [1992] HCA 58; (1992) 175 CLR 479 Surf Road Nominees Pty Ltd & Ors v Tass James & Ors [2004] NSWSC 61 Surf Road Nominees Pty Limited & Ors v Tass James & Ors [2004] NSWSC 223 Stringer v Flehr & Walker [2003] QSC 370; (2003) Aust Tort Reports 81-718 Tabet v Gett [2010] HCA 12; (2010) 265 ALR 227 Teachers Health Investments Pty Ltd v Julian [2001] NSWSC 231; ANZ ConvR 449 Unity Insurance v Rocco Pezzano [1998] HCA 38; (1988) 192 CLR 603 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 WCW Pty Ltd v Bolster & Company [1993] FCA 2 Wilkinson v Daley [2004] NSWCA 331 Windy Construction UK Limited v Poole [1984] 2 Lloyds Rep 499 at 506-7 Woolcock Street Investments Pty Limited v CDG Pty Limited [2004] HCA 16; (2004) 216 CLR 515 Young v Commissioner of Taxation [2010] NSWSC 288