King v Benecke [2013] NSWSC 568

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: King v Benecke [2013] NSWSC 568 Hearing dates: 6-10, 29 and 31 August, 13 December 2012 Decision date: 23 August 2013 Before: Harrison J Decision: 1. Verdict for the defendants. 2. Unless within 14 days I receive notice given to my Associate that either party wishes to contend for a different order, I will order that the plaintiff pay the defendants' costs. Catchwords: PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE - plaintiff sues former solicitor - where plaintiff sought effective ownership and control of family farming and grazing business - where business shares were to be acquired by plaintiff from family members - whether solicitor was retained by plaintiff - where solicitor denied existence of retainer - no formal retainer - whether retainer implied by conduct of parties - where professional relationship between solicitor and plaintiff's family spanned generations - retainer existed - whether breach of retainer or duty of care - where solicitor advised parties on both sides of transaction - conflict of interest - where misuse of confidential information - where failure to advise client properly - breach of duty and retainer - causation - whether breaches disadvantaged plaintiff's negotiating position at mediation - whether breaches influenced final settlement sum offered - where plaintiff influenced by own conduct independent of defendant Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Corporations Act 2000 Cases Cited: ACN 070 037 579 Pty Ltd v Larvik Pty Ltd [2008] QCA 416 Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak (2009) 239 CLR 420 Astley v Austrust Limited [1999] HCA 6; (1999) 197 CLR 1 Colyer Fehr Tallow Pty Ltd v KNZ Australia Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 457 County Securities Pty Ltd v Challenger Group Holdings Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 193 Dominic v Riz [2009] NSWCA 216 Ermogeneous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc [2002] HCA 8; (2002) 209 CLR 95 Gates v City Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd [1986] HCA 3; (1986) 160 CLR 1 Hendricks v McGeoch [2008] NSWCA 53 Johnson v Perez [1988] HCA 64; (1988) 166 CLR 351 Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20; (1990) 169 CLR 638 McCrohon v Harith [2010] NSWCA 67 Monaghan Surveyors Pty Ltd v Stratford Glen-Avon Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 94 Pegrum v Fatharly (1996) 14 WAR 92 Poseidon Ltd & Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL [1994] HCA 4; (1994) 179 CLR 332 Simmons v Story [2001] VSCA 187 State of New South Wales v Mikhael [2012] NSWCA 338 Steele v Marshan [2012] NSWCA 141 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; (2012) 246 CLR 182 Todorovic v Waller [1981] HCA 72; (1981) 150 CLR 402 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Category: Principal judgment Parties: George Berkeley Ewart King (Plaintiff) Ian John Benecke (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D L Williams SC with T J Breakspear and M F Newton (Plaintiff) I Pike SC with J J Hutton (Defendant) Solicitors: Thompson Eslick Solicitors (Plaintiff) Yeldham Price O'Brien Lusk (Defendant) File Number(s): 2009/297857