Cooper v Winter [2012] NSWSC 161

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cooper v Winter [2012] NSWSC 161 Hearing dates: 27 February 2012 - 1 March 2012 Decision date: 07 March 2012 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson J Decision: (1) Judgment for the defendants. (2) Order the plaintiff to pay the defendants' costs, unless within seven days any application is made for a different costs order. Catchwords: CONTRACT - retainer - express or implied retainer - whether the defendant solicitor was retained by the plaintiff TORT - negligence - duty of care - duty of a solicitor - duty of a solicitor owed to a former client - duty of a solicitor in the absence of a retainer EQUITY AND TRUSTS - establishment of a trust - requirement of certainty of objects - lack of certainty as to terms of the trust DAMAGES - loss of chance - causation Legislation Cited: Limitation Act 1969 Cases Cited: Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Hendriks v McGeoch [2008] NSWCA 53 Kallinicos v Hunt [2005] NSWSC 1181; 64 NSWLR 561 Kyriakou v Hughes (1984) Aust Torts Reports 80-646 Mutual Life & Citizens Assurance Co Ltd v Evatt [1968] HCA 74; 122 CLR 556 Paric v John Holland (Constructions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 58; 59 ALJR 844 Ramsay v Watson [1961] HCA 65; 108 CLR 642 San Sebastian Pty Ltd v The Minister [1986] HCA 68; 62 CLR 340 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL [1994] HCA 4; 179 CLR 332 Tepko Pty Ltd v Water Board [2001] HCA 19; 206 CLR 1 Thomas v Adam [2000] NSWCA 127 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 White v Shortall [2006] NSWSC 1379; 68 NSWLR 650 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Peter Joseph Cooper - Plaintiff Ronald William Winter - First defendant Neil Stewart Williamson - Second defendant Anthony Orazio Brischetto - Third defendant Representation: T Boyd/J Cairn - Plaintiff G Curtin SC/M Neville - Defendants Herbert Weller Solicitor - Plaintiff Colin Biggers & Paisley - Defendants File Number(s): 2007/00265248