Cooper v Hobbs [2013] NSWCA 70

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Cooper v Hobbs [2013] NSWCA 70 Hearing dates: 25 September 2012 Decision date: 09 April 2013 Before: McColl JA at [1], Meagher JA at [89], Bergin CJ in Eq at [98] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the orders made by Letherbarrow SC DCJ on 28 July 2011 and entered on 2 August 2011. 3. Remit the matter to the District Court of New South Wales for a new trial. 4. Respondents to pay the costs of the appeal and to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 if otherwise qualified. 5. Costs of the first trial to be in the discretion of the judge who hears the second trial. [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: APPEAL - error in process of fact finding - failure to examine all material relevant to central issue - new trial required

CONTRACT - whether transaction loan to appellant or investment in third party company - whether respondents' case contrary to compelling inference

CONTRACT - post-contractual conduct - letter from respondents' solicitor to third party - whether letter contained admissions adverse to respondents' interests

EVIDENCE - whether primary judge entitled to draw Jones v Dunkel inference from failure to call solicitor as witness - client legal privilege - where respondents gave evidence at trial about solicitor's advice - whether respondents waived privilege by acting inconsistently with maintenance of privilege Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 Suitors' Funds Act 1951 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Ampolex Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1995) 37 NSWLR 405 Armory v Delamirie (1722) 1 Stra 505; 93 ER 664 Attorney-General for the Northern Territory v Maurice [1986] HCA 80; (1986) 161 CLR 475 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVth Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 Benecke v National Australia Bank (1993) 35 NSWLR 110 Bennett v Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs Service [2004] FCAFC 237; (2004) 140 FCR 101 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council [2001] NSWCA 61; (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Council of the New South Wales Bar Association v Archer [2008] NSWCA 164; (2008) 72 NSWLR 236 Damberg v Damberg [2001] NSWCA 87; (2001) 52 NSWLR 492 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Lym International Pty Ltd v Marcolongo [2011] NSWCA 303 Manly Council v Byrne [2004] NSWCA 123 Mann v Carnell [1999] HCA 66; (1999) 201 CLR 1 Osland v Secretary, Dept of Justice [2008] HCA 37; (2008) 234 CLR 275 R v JGW [1999] NSWCCA 116 RPS v R [2000] HCA 3; (2000) 199 CLR 620 Secretary, Department of Justice v Osland [2007] VSCA 96; (2007) 26 VAR 425 Standard Chartered Bank of Australia Ltd v Antico (1993) 36 NSWLR 87 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (in liq) [1999] HCA 3; (1999) 73 ALJR 306 Suncorp Metway Insurance Ltd v Owners Corporation Sp 64487 [2009] NSWCA 223 Tomko v Palasty [2007] NSWCA 258 Waterways Authority v Fitzgibbon [2005] HCA 57; (2005) 79 ALJR 1816 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Wentworth v Lloyd (1864) 10 HL Cas 589; 11 ER 1154 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence, LexisNexis Butterworths Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dean Cooper - appellant Maxwell Hobbs - first respondent Karen Hobbs - second respondent Representation: Counsel: C D Freeman - appellant R McKeand SC - respondents Solicitors: Inner West Legal Solicitors - appellant John F Morrisey & Co - respondents File Number(s): 2011/272472 Publication restriction: No Decision under appeal Citation: Hobbs v Cooper (unreported, 28 July 2011) Date of Decision: 2011-07-28 00:00:00 Before: Letherbarrow SC DCJ File Number(s): DC 2009/334586