Maxwell-Smith v S & E Hall Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 146

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Maxwell-Smith v S & E Hall Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 146 Hearing dates: 14 April 2014 Decision date: 14 May 2014 Before: Beazley P at [1]; McColl JA at [2]; Barrett JA at [3] Decision: 1. If and to the extent that leave to appeal is required, grant leave to appeal. 2. Direct that a notice of appeal in the form of the draft in the white folder (Tab 2) be filed within seven days. 3. Dismiss the appeal. 4. That the appellants pay the respondents' costs in this Court [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: PROFESSIONS AND TRADES - lawyers - duties and liabilities - duty of solicitor to client after conclusion of retainer - duty confined to protection of the former client's confidences and the integrity of the judicial process and the due administration of justice - TORTS - collateral abuse of process - resort by judgment creditor to bankruptcy notice - whether the creditor's actions amounted to the tort of collateral abuse of process - requirement that plaintiff show some overt act or threat beyond obtaining issue of the process and deploying it in the ordinary course - that requirement not satisfied - tort in any event confined to court process - TORTS - collateral abuse of process - where solicitor acted for judgment creditor in obtaining issue of the bankruptcy notice and serving it - liability in tort can be incurred only by a party to the process Legislation Cited: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Cases Cited: Butler v Simmonds Crowley & Galvin [1999] QCA 475; [2000] 2 Qd R 252 Cooper v Winter [2013] NSWCA 261 Crawford Adjusters v Sagicor General Insurance (Cayman) Ltd [2013] UKPC 17; [2013] 3 WLR 927 Dowling v Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd [1915] HCA 56; 20 CLR 509 Emanuele v Hedley (1998) 179 FCR 290 Gilding v Eyre (1861) 10 CB (NS) 592; 142 ER 584 Gordon v Treadwell Stacey Smith [1996] NZCA 110; [1996] 3 NZLR 281 Grainger v Hill (1838) 4 Bing (NC) 212; 132 ER 769 Hanrahan v Ainsworth (1990) 22 NSWLR 73 Kallinicos v Hunt [2005] NSWSC 1181; 64 NSWLR 561 Land Securities plc v Fladgate Fielder [2009] EWCA Civ 1402; [2010] Ch 467 Leerdam v Noori [2009] NSWCA 90; 255 ALR 553 Maxwell-Smith v S & E Hall Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 825; 233 ALR 81 Paradise Grove Pty Ltd v Stubberfield [2001] QCA 117 Re Bilen; Ex parte Sistrom (unreported, Federal Court, Neaves J, 11 April 1985) Smith v Rusk [2009] BCCA 96; 91 BCLR (4th) 106 Spautz v Gibbs (1990) 21 NSWLR 230 Talacko v Talacko [2010] FCAFC 54; 183 FCR 311 The Beach Club Port Douglas Pty Ltd v Page [2005] QCA 475; [2006] 1 Qd R 307 Varawa v Howard Smith & Co Ltd [1911] HCA 46; 13 CLR 35 Williams v Spautz [1992] HCA 34; 174 CLR 509 Texts Cited: Paul Perell, "Tort Claims for abuse of process" (2007) 33 The Advocates' Quartely 193 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Inge Maxwell-Smith (First Appellant) Eugene Maxwell-Smith (Second Appellant) S & E Hall Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Hugo Patrick White (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: First Appellant self-represented (First and Second Appellants) D J Hooke SC/J Masur (First Respondent) N J Beaumont SC/N F Case (Second Respondent) Solicitors: First and Second Appellants self-represented Rankin Ellison Lawyers (First Respondent) K & L Gates (Second Respondent) File Number(s): 2013/155581 Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2013-05-09 00:00:00 Before: Kearns DCJ File Number(s): 2010/292575