Mark Gerard Ireland as Executor of the Estate of the late Charles Stuart Gordon v Sandra Jane Retallack & Ors [2011] NSWSC 846

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mark Gerard Ireland as Executor of the Estate of the late Charles Stuart Gordon v Sandra Jane Retallack & Ors [2011] NSWSC 846 Hearing dates: 1 August 2011 Decision date: 12 August 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Pembroke J Decision: See paragraphs [53] and [54] Catchwords: SUCCESSION - wills - construction - manifest intention of testator - effectiveness of gift of property not owned by testator - whether executor armed to make gift effective - duty to executor to give effect to gift where able to do so CORPORATIONS - oppressive conduct - interaction with executor's duty to give effect gift - need for real possibility of oppression before court will invalidate gift CIVIL PROCEDURE - application of Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) to will construction suits - just, quick and cheap resolution of real issues - duty of litigants to assist court to facilitate overriding purpose - duty of legal practitioners to facilitate overriding purpose - whether breach of duty by executor's solicitor COSTS - Section 99 of Civil Procedure Act, 2005 (NSW) - possible disallowance of costs - liability of legal practitioners Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Duties Act 1997 (NSW) Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) Trustee Act 1925 (NSW) Cases Cited: Catto v Hampton Australia Ltd (in liquidation) (No 3) (2004) 89 SASR 234 FAI General Insurance Co Ltd v Burns [1996] NSWSC 350 (CA) Foord v Brock [2005] NSWCA 156 Hendry v The Perpetual Executors and Trustees Association of Australia Limited (1961) 106 CLR 256 Hens Pet Constructions Pty Ltd v Cassar [2009] NSWCA 230 John J Starr (Real Estate) Pty Ltd v Robert R Andrew v (A/Asia) Pty Ltd (1991) 6 ACSR 63 McLaughlin v Dungowan Manly Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 384 McLaughlin v Dungowan Manly Pty Ltd (No 3) [2011] NSWSC 717 Murdocca v Murdocca (No 2) NSWSC 505 Newmont Yandal Operations Pty Limited v The J Aron Corporation and The Goldman Sachs Group Inc & Ors (2007) 70 NSWLR 411 Re Bowcock (deceased); Vox v Bowcock [1968] 2 NSWR 697 Re Broadcasting Station 2GB Pty Ltd [1964-5] NSWR 1648 Re O'Callaghan [1972] VR 248 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mark Gerard Ireland as Executor of the Estate of the Late Charles Stuart Gordon - plaintiff Sandra Jane Retallack - first defendant Gordon Family Corporation Pty Ltd - second defendant Richard d'Apice - third defendant Representation: Counsel: P Blackburn-Hart SC with R J Carruthers - for the plaintiff L Ellison SC - for the first defendant P P O'Loughlin - for the second and third defendants Solicitors: Argyle Lawyers Pty Ltd - for the plaintiff King Cain Solicitors - for the first defendant Makinson & d'Apice Lawyers - for the second and third defendants File Number(s): 2010/00380339