Council of the Law Society of NSW v Fitzsimons [2012] NSWADT 242

Administrative Decisions Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Council of the Law Society of NSW v Fitzsimons [2012] NSWADT 242 Hearing dates: 23 April 2012, 24 July 2012 & 4 July 2012 Decision date: 23 November 2012 Jurisdiction: Legal Services Division Before: M Riordan, Judicial Member J Pheils, Judicial Member R Fitzgerald, Non-Judicial Member Decision: 1. The Respondent is guilty of professional misconduct. 2. The matter is set down for further directions at 9.30am on 6 December 2012. Catchwords: Solicitor - Professional Misconduct - Misappropriation - Misleading/attempting to Mislead - making false Statutory Declaration - Failure to report an act of dishonesty or irregularities in relation to trust monies to the Law Society - Breach of fiduciary duty - Borrowing from clients Legislation Cited: Legal Profession Act 2004 Cases Cited: Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Clapin [2011] NSWADT 83; Brereton v Legal Services Commissioner [2010] VSC 378; Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v. Simpson [2011] NSWADT 242; Council of the Queensland Law Society Inc. v Wakeling [2004] QCA 42; Daly v. Sydney Stock Exchange Limited [1986] HCA 25; (1986) 160 CLR 371; Harle v Legal Practitioners Liability Committee (2004) 13 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-605; Lancashire Railway Co v. MacNicoll(1919) 88 LJKB 601; Law Society of NSW v. Doherty [2010] NSWCA 177; Law Society of New South Wales v. McCarthy [2003] NSWADT 198; Legal Practitioners Conduct Board v. Jones [2010] SAS CFC 51; Legal Services Commissioner v. Brereton [2011] VSCA 241; Myers v. Ellman [1940] AC 282; Penfolds Wines Pty Ltd v. Elliott (1946) 74 CLR 204; Peters v. R(1998) [1998] HCA 7: 192 CLR 493; Stewart v. Layton(1992) 111 ALR 687; Council of the NSW Bar Association v Asuzu [2011] NSWADT 209; Council of the NSW Bar Association v Sahade [2007] NSWCA 145 at [54] (per Basten JA); Allinson v Genera/ Council of Medical Education and Registration [1894] 1 QB 750 at 783; NSW Bar Association v Cummins [2001] NSWCA 284 [51]; Repatriation Commission v Vietnam Veterans' Association of Australia NSW Branch Inc. [2000] NSWCA 85; (2000) 48 NSWLR 548 at 577 [118]; Bechara v Legal Services Commissioner [2010] NSWCA 389 at [44]; Clyne v NSW Bar Association [1980] HCA 40; (1980) 104 CLR 188; New South Wales Bar Association v Livesey [1982] 2 NSWLR 231; Howes v Law Society of the ACT (Supreme Court of ACT, Gallop ACJ, Higgins and Crispin JJ, 23 July 1998, Unreported); Law Society of NSW v Moulton [1981] 2 NSWLR 736); Re Walker; Ex pane Kemp (1887) 3 WN (NSW) 123); Ziems v Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of NSW [1957] HCA 46; (1957) 97 CLR 279; Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; (1938) 60 CLR 336; Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; R V Tsingopoulos [1964] VR 676 at 681, Deane J); Plomp v R [1963] 110 CLR 234; R v Griffiths (1994) 125 ALR 545; R V Greene (2002) 4 VR 471; Chamberlain v R (No. 2) (1984) 153 CLR 521; De Gauchy v R (2002) 211 CLR 85; Re Hodgkiss (1962) SR (NSW) 340; Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Texts Cited: Riley, Solicitors Manual: Commentary (ed G Dal Pont: Butterworths, 2005, updated) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Council of the Law Society of NSW (Applicant) Maria Fitzsimons (Respondent) Representation: Counsel J Gleeson (Applicant) Council of the Law Society of NSW (Applicant) G Walsh & Co (Respondent) File Number(s): 092018