Mark Gerard Ireland as Executor of the Estate of the late Charles Stuart Gordon v Sandra Jane Retallack & Ors (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 1096

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 (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 1096 Hearing dates: 8 September 2011 Decision date: 19 September 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Pembroke J Decision: See paragraphs [67] - [70] Catchwords: COSTS - court's control over solicitor's costs - Section 98(4) Civil Procedure Act - capping costs - Section 99(2) Civil Procedure Act - disallowing costs WASTED COSTS - expenditure incurred without reasonable cause - not recoverable EXPERT REPORTS - unnecessary - not reasonable to carry out the work to which the costs relate EVIDENCE - irrelevant - not reasonable to carry out the work to which the costs relate SOLICITORS - acting on behalf of executor - duties and responsibilities TRUSTS AND SUCCESSION - payment of costs of proceedings out of specific property or out of residue - Section 93 Trustee Act Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Legal Profession Act 2004 Probate and Administration Act 1898 Supreme Court Act 1981 (UK) Trustee Act 1925 Cases Cited: Australian Performing Rights Association Limited v Marlin [1999] FCA 1006 Beach Petroleum NL v Johnson (No 2) (1995) 57 FCR 119 Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71 Foord v Brock [2005] NSWCA 156 Hadid v Lenfest Communications [2000] FCA 628 Harrison v Schipp (2002) 54 NSWLR 738 Ideal Waterproofing Pty Limited v Buildcorp Australia Pty Limited [2006] NSWSC 155 Idoport Pty Limited v National Australia Bank Limited [2007] NSWSC 23 Mark Gerard Ireland as Executor of the Estate of the late Charles Stuart Gordon v Sandra Jane Retallack [2011] NSWSC 846 Kelly v Jowett [2009] NSWCA 278 Kendirjian v Ayoub [2008] NSWCA 194 Leary v Leary [1987] 1 WLR 72 Lemoto v Able Technical Pty Ltd (2005) 63 NSWLR 300 Mills v Cannon Brewery Co Limited [1920] 2 Ch 38 Murdocca v Murdocca (No 2) [2002] NSWSC 505 NA & J Investments Pty Ltd v Minister Administering the Water Management Act 2000 (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 98 Ridehalgh v Horsefield [1994] Ch 205 Secured Income Real Estate (Aust) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 596 Sherborne Estate (No 2); Vanvalen v Neeves (2005) 65 NSWLR 268 Sony Entertainment (Australia) Limited v Smith [2005] FCA 228 Sparnon v Apand Pty Ltd (Federal Court of Australia, von Doussa J, 4 March 1998, unreported) Speight v Gaunt (1883) 9 App Cas 1 Treadwell v Hickey [2010] NSWSC 1119 Wentworth v Wentworth [1996] NSWCA 548 Woolf v Snipe (1933) 48 CLR 677 Category: Costs 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: E C Muston - for the plaintiff L Ellison SC - for the first defendant P P O'Loughlin - for the third defendant (the Trust) M Dempsey SC - for Argyle Lawyers D H Murr SC - for Richard d'Apice 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