In the matter of HIH Insurance Limited (in liquidation); Smith & ors v McGrath & ors; Baldock & ors v McGrath & ors [2014] NSWSC 922

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the matter of HIH Insurance Limited (in liquidation); Smith & ors v McGrath & ors; Baldock & ors v McGrath & ors [2014] NSWSC 922 Hearing dates: 13 June 2014 Decision date: 14 July 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Corporations List Before: Brereton J Decision: Proceedings by those plaintiffs who have not expressly authorised institution of an appeal to be dismissed. Catchwords: Legal profession - retainer - authority to institute proceedings - whether retainer to prove claim in liquidation sufficient authority for institution of appeal to the court from liquidators' rejection - where retainer includes authority to take such further steps as may be necessary and to follow the procedure under the schemes of arrangement - held, insufficient authority for institution of proceedings Legislation Cited: (Cth) Corporations Act 2001, s 1321 Cases Cited: A W & L M Forrest Pty Ltd v Beamish (1998) 146 FLR 450 Ashrafinia v Ashrafinia [2012] NSWSC 500 Atkinson v Abbott (1855) 61 ER 899 City of Glenorchy v Addison (No 2) (1967) 15 LGRA 259 Harry S Bagg's Liquidation Warehouse Pty Ltd v Whittaker (1982) 44 NSWLR 421 Hawkins Hill Gold Mining Co v Briscoe (1887) 8 LR (NSW) Eq 123 Hawksford v Hawksford (2005) 191 FLR 173 Hawksford v Hawksford [2005] NSWSC 463 Hillig v Darkinjung Pty Ltd (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 147 In re Joseph Woolf [1932] VLR 465 James v Ricknell (1887) 20 QBD 164 Knox Street Apartments v Roger Percival Flexman [2002] NSWSC 102 Picken v Shire of Alexander (1890) 16 VLR 309 Wood v Inglis [2008] NSWSC 1147 Wray v Kemp (1884) 26 Ch D 169 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Barry Alexander Smith (first plaintiff/respondent 13/320171) Craig Richard Baldock (first plaintiff/respondent 13/345623) Anthony Gregory McGrath as liquidator of HIH Insurance Limited (first defendant/applicant) Christopher John Honey as liquidator of HIH Insurance Limited (second defendant/applicant) Anthony Gregory McGrath as scheme administrator of FAI General Insurance Company Ltd (third defendant/applicant) Christopher John Honey as scheme administrator of FAI General Insurance Company Ltd (fourth defendant/applicant) Anthony Gregory McGrath as scheme administrator of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited (fifth defendant/applicant) Christopher John Honey as scheme administrator of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited (sixth defendant/applicant) Anthony Gregory McGrath as scheme administrator of CIC Insurance Limited (in liquidation) (seventh defendant/applicant) Christopher John Honey as scheme administrator of CIC Insurance Limited (in liquidation) (eighth defendant/applicant) Representation: Counsel: J White (plaintiffs/respondents 13/320171) B Dennis, solicitor (plaintiffs/respondents 13/345623) JRJ Lockhart SC (defendants/applicants) Solicitors: Thomas Booler & Co plaintiffs/respondents 13/320171) DC Legal (plaintiffs/respondents 13/345623) Ashurst (defendants/applicants) File Number(s): 2013/320171 2013/345623