Takla v Nasr [2013] NSWCA 435

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Takla v Nasr [2013] NSWCA 435 Hearing dates: 6 February 2013 Decision date: 13 December 2013 Before: McColl JA at [1], Basten JA at [98], Hoeben JA at [105] 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 - professional negligence - where appellant retained respondent solicitor on purchase of townhouse - where appellant paid 80 per cent of purchase price as deposit - where vendor went into receivership before completion - where directors of vendor agreed to guarantee deposit - where directors did not execute contract containing guarantee - where appellant lost her deposit - whether respondent breached duty of care to appellant - whether respondent failed to warn appellant of risks - whether respondent breached duty in failing to procure guarantees from vendor's directors and investigate their financial position - whether any act or omission of respondent caused appellant's loss Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak; Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Bou Najem [2009] HCA 48; (2009) 239 CLR 420 AJH Lawyers Pty Ltd v Hamo [2010] VSCA 222; (2010) 29 VR 384 Astley v Austrust Ltd [1999] HCA 6; (1999) 197 CLR 1 Beach Petroleum NL v Abbott Tout Russell Kennedy [1999] NSWCA 408; (1999) 48 NSWLR 1 Biogen Inc v Medeva plc (1996) 36 IPR 438 Board of Bendigo Regional Institute of Technical and Further Education v Barclay [2012] HCA 32; (2012) 86 ALJR 1044 Citicorp Australia Ltd v O'Brien (1996) 40 NSWLR 398 Clark Boyce v Mouat [1993] 3 WLR 1021; [1994] 1 AC 428 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan [2002] HCA 54; (2002) 211 CLR 540 Henville v Walker [2001] HCA 52; (2001) 206 CLR 459 Heydon v NRMA Ltd [2000] NSWCA 374; (2000) 51 NSWLR 1 Hill v Van Erp [1997] HCA 9; (1997) 188 CLR 159 Hunt & Hunt Lawyers (a firm) v Mitchell Morgan Nominees Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 10; (2013) 247 CLR 613 I & L Securities Pty Ltd v HTW Valuers (Brisbane) Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 41; (2002) 210 CLR 109 Keddie v Stacks/Goudkamp Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 254; (2012) 293 ALR 764 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Fox [2009] HCA 35; (2009) 240 CLR 1 Lucantonio v Kleinert [2009] NSWSC 853 Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd v Milanex Pty Ltd (in liquidation) [2011] NSWCA 367 Provident Capital Ltd v Papa [2013] NSWCA 36 Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; (2007) 234 CLR 330 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; (2012) 246 CLR 182 Swan & Baker Pty Ltd v Marando [2013] NSWCA 233 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 422 Waimond Pty Ltd v Byrne (1989) 18 NSWLR 642 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; (2013) 87 ALJR 648 White v Jones [1995] 2 WLR 187; [1995] 2 AC 207 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Elizabeth Takla - Appellant Joe Nasr - Respondent Representation: Counsel: B M Toomey QC and T J Morahan - Appellant G A Sirtes SC - Respondent Solicitors: Lang Noonan Legal - Appellant Wotton & Kearney - Respondent File Number(s): 2012/35905 Publication restriction: No Decision under appeal Citation: [2011] NSWDC 169 Date of Decision: 2011-11-07 00:00:00 Before: Walmsley DCJ File Number(s): 2009/00336297