Cooper v Winter [2013] NSWCA 261

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Cooper v Winter [2013] NSWCA 261 Hearing dates: 22 March 2013 Decision date: 13 August 2013 Before: McColl JA at [1] Barrett JA at [2] Ward JA at [3] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. [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: TORTS - negligence - solicitors' duties to clients and former clients - whether primary judge erred in holding that no solicitor/client retainer and no duty of care or fiduciary duties owed to appellant in relation to transaction in question - whether primary judge erred in holding no breach of duty of care or fiduciary duties and no loss caused as a result of conduct in question Cases Cited: Allen v Tobias [1958] HCA 13; (1958) 98 CLR 367 Beach Petroleum NL v Kennedy [1999] NSWCA 408; (1999) 48 NSWLR 1 Cooper v Winter [2012] NSWSC 161 Davie v Lord Provost Magistrates and Councillors of the City of Edinburgh (1953) SC 34 Easter v Griffith (Supreme Court of New South Wales, Santow J, 17 June 1993, unreported) Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Holborow v Rudder [2002] WASC 265 Kallinicos v Hunt [2005] NSWSC 1181; (2005) 64 NSWLR 561 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 McCrohon v Harith [2010] NSWCA 67 Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725 The Ophelia [1916] 2 AC 206 Watkins T/as Watkins Tapsell v De Varda [2003] NSWCA 242 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Peter Joseph Cooper (Appellant) Ronald William Winter (First Respondent) Neill Stewart Williamson (Second Respondent) Anthony Orazio Brieschetto (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T J Boyd with J D Cairn (Appellant) G Curtin SC (Respondents) Solicitors: Herbert Weller (Appellant) Coliln Biggers & Paisley (Respondents) File Number(s): CA 12/104578 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9111 Citation: [2012] NSWSC 161 Date of Decision: 2012-03-07 00:00:00 Before: Adamson J File Number(s): SC 07/265248