Marshall v Prescott (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 1949

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Marshall v Prescott (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 1949 Hearing dates: 12 to 14, 16 and 19 August 2013; last written submissions 9 October 2013. Decision date: 20 December 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Beech-Jones J Decision: The proceedings be dismissed. Catchwords: EQUITY - claim for damages for breach of fiduciary duty and obligation of confidence - solicitor and former client - fiduciary duty - scope and duration - before and after termination of retainer - obligation of confidence - whether there was a breach of confidence - whether solicitor misused confidential information of former client - circumstances in which information was imparted - limited retainer from former client - accepted that solicitor also retained by a different client with a potentially competing claim - information received to advance common objective of both clients to maximise recovery - information derived not exclusive to former client - whether allegations went outside the pleaded case.

ESTOPPEL - res judicata - judgments by consent - interlocutory orders - whether cause of action sued on in these proceedings merged into a judgment already entered - issue estoppel - whether orders necessarily decided the defendant breached his fiduciary duty or obligation of confidence.

TORT - duty of care - conspiracy by lawful and unlawful means.

COSTS - solicitor/client costs of previous proceedings - whether recoverable - whether estoppel arises - whether the issue of costs of previous proceedings was determined by costs orders made in those proceedings. Legislation Cited: - Civil Procedure Act 2005 - Evidence Act 1995 - Family Provision Act 1982 Cases Cited: - Avenhouse v Hornsby Shire Council (1998) 44 NSWLR 1 - Anderson v Bowles (1951) 84 CLR 310 - Australian Broadcasting Corp v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 63; 208 CLR 199 - Baker v Campbell [1983] HCA 39; 153 CLR 52 - Beach Petroleum NL v Abbott Tout Russell Kennedy [1999] NSWCA 408; 48 NSWLR 1 - Berry v British Transport Commission [1962] 1 Q.B. 306 - Blair v Curran (1939) 62 CLR 464 - Bristol & West Building Society v Mothew [1998] Ch 1 - Chamberlain v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [1988] HCA 21; 164 CLR 502 - Church v Price [2000] NSWSC 754 - Coco v AN Clark (Engineers) Ltd [1969] RPC 41 - Commonwealth v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1980) 147 CLR 39 - Commonwealth v Verwayen [1990] HCA 39; 170 CLR 394 - Cooper v Winter [2013] NSWCA 261 - Crofter Handwoven Harris Tweed Co Ltd v Veitch [1942] AC 435 - Del Casale v Artedomus (Aust) Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 172 - Fleming v Marshall [2011] NSWCA 86; 279 ALR 737 - Glazier v Australian Men's Health (No 2) [2001] NSWSC 6 - Isaacs v Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corporation Ltd (1958) SR (NSW) 69 - Jack L. Israel Ltd v Ocean Dynamic Lines SA & Ocean Victory Ltd [1982] 2 Lloyd's Rep 88 - Jackson v Goldsmith (1950) 81 CLR 446 - Kallinicos v Hunt [2005] NSWSC 1181; 64 NSWLR 561 - Kelly v Cooper [1993] AC 205 - Kuligowski v Metrobus [2004] HCA 34; 220 CLR 363 - Marshall v Carruthers [2002] NSWCA 47 - Marshall v Prescott (No 2) [2013] NSWSC 1254 - Maurice Blackburn Cashman v Brown [2011] HCA 22; 242 CLR 647 - Meehan v Glazier Holdings Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 22; 54 NSWLR 146 - Mills v Day Dawn Block Gold Mining Co Ltd (1882) 1 QLJ 62 - Murray v Yorkshire Fund Managers Ltd [1998] 1 WLR 951 - National Mutual Holdings Pty Ltd v Sentry Corporation (1989) 22 FCR 209 - Nau v Kemp & Associates Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 164; 77 NSWLR 687 - O'Brien v Komesaroff [1982] HCA 33; 150 CLR 310 - Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd [1981] HCA 45; 147 CLR 589 - Prince Jefri Bolkiah v KPMG (a Firm) [1999] 2 WLR 215 - Provident Capital Ltd v Papa (No 2) [2013] NSWCA 156 - Quartz Hill Consolidated Gold Mining Co v Eyre (1883) 11 QBD 674 - Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 - Rogers v R [1994] HCA 42; 181 CLR 251 - Smith Kline & French Laboratories (Aust) Ltd v Secretary, Department of Community Services and Health (1990) 22 FCR 73 - Smith Kline & French Laboratories (Aust) Ltd v Secretary, Department of Community Services & Health (1991) 28 FCR 291 - Spector v Ageda [1973] Ch 30 - Streetscape Projects (Australia) Pty Ltd & Anor v City of Sydney [2013] NSWCA 2; 295 ALR 760 - Worth Recycling Pty Ltd v Waste Recycling & Processing Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 354 Texts Cited: - Gurry on Breach of Confidence, 2nd Ed (2012) - McGregor on Damages, 17th Ed (2003) K.R. Handley, Spencer Bower and Handley: - Res Judicata, 4th Ed (2009) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Margaret Lesley Marshall (First Plaintiff) Kim Neil Marshall (Second Plaintiff) Michael Prescott (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: C.J. Bevan, E.W. Young (Plaintiffs) J.C. Kelly SC, B. McManus (Defendant) Solicitors: Turner Freeman (Plaintiffs) Colin Biggers & Paisley (Defendant) File Number(s): 2009/297404