D'Agostino v Anderson [2012] NSWCA 443

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: D'Agostino v Anderson [2012] NSWCA 443 Hearing dates: 20 August 2012 Decision date: 21 December 2012 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; McColl JA at [27]; Macfarlan JA at [28] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the judgment and orders of Ashford DCJ made 6 October 2011 and 5 December 2011 and in lieu thereof (i) enter judgment for the defendant and (ii) order the plaintiffs to pay the defendant's costs. 3. Order the respondents to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal and have a Certificate under the Suitors Fund Act if eligible. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: LIMITATION - solicitor negligent in failing to highlight lapsed development consent prior to purchase - whether negligence claim statute barred - time runs from first instance of actual loss - whether loss caused at time of entering into agreement to purchase or upon local council's discovery of lapsed consent Legislation Cited: Limitation Act 1969 Cases Cited: Argyropolous v Layton [2002] NSWCA 183 Cartledge v E Jopling & Sons Ltd [1963] AC 758 Hawkins v Clayton [1988] HCA 15; (1988) 164 CLR 529 Howell v Young (1826) 108 ER 97 HTW Valuers (Central Qld) Pty Ltd v Astonland Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 54; (2004) 217 CLR 640 Scarcella v Lettice [2000] NSWCA 289; (2000) 51 NSWLR 302 Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia [1992] HCA 55; (1992) 175 CLR 514 Winnote Pty Ltd (in liq) v Page [2006] NSWCA 287; (2006) 68 NSWLR 287 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Joseph D'Agostino Trading as D'Agostino Solicitors (Appellant) David Anderson (First Respondent) Kerrie Anderson (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr M Dicker (Appellant) Mr M R Aldridge SC; Ms M Fraser (Respondents) Solicitors: Colin Biggers & Paisley (Appellant) Brydens Law Office (Respondents) File Number(s): 2011/342084 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9101 Date of Decision: 2011-10-06 00:00:00 Before: Ashford DCJ File Number(s): 4922 of 2009