Sewell v Zelden [2010] NSWSC 1180

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Sewell v Zelden [2010] NSWSC 1180

HEARING DATE(S) : 5-8 July 2010

JUDGMENT DATE : 3 September 2010

JURISDICTION : Equity Division

JUDGMENT OF : Rein J

Held that the first defendant breached his fiduciary duty to the plaintiff. DECISION : Held that the second and third defendants are liable for "knowing assistance" under the second limb of Barnes v Addy. Matter stood over for orders to be prepared based upon the findings contained in the reasons for judgment.

CATCHWORDS : EQUITY - fiduciary duties - breach - conflict of interest - defences to breach - disclosure and informed consent - where solicitor acted for client on sale of property owned by solicitor's wife's company, and proceeds of sale used to discharge mortgage on home of solicitor and solicitor's wife - whether solicitor breached fiduciary duty to client - EQUITY - second limb of Barnes v Addy ("knowing assistance") - whether solicitor's wife and company owned by her had knowledge of solicitor's dishonest and fraudulent breach of fiduciary duty to client - EQUITY - remedies - breach of fiduciary duty - account of profits - "profit" or "benefit" received by solicitor, solicitor's wife and company owned by her

LEGISLATION CITED : Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW)

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

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