Hudson Investment Group Limited v Atanaskovic [2014] NSWCA 255

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hudson Investment Group Limited v Atanaskovic [2014] NSWCA 255 Hearing dates: 28, 29 April 2014 Decision date: 05 August 2014 Before: Beazley P at [1]; Ward JA at [2]; Sackville AJA at [3] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed. 2. The appellant to pay the respondents' costs of the appeal. [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 - causation - client claimed damages for losses attributable to allegedly negligent drafting of a deed - negligence said to consist of a failure to draft key provisions so as to create a clear and unambiguous entitlement to receive payment of $9.5 million - the damages said to be the difference between $9.5 million and a lesser sum received by the client forced to compromise its claim by reason of the ambiguity in the deed - whether the alleged breach of duty caused the claimed loss - significance of the client failing to utilise other provisions in the deed to protect its interests - whether appropriate that the scope of the solicitors' liability should extend to the claimed loss

TORTS - negligence - whether drafting of ambiguous provisions in a deed breached the solicitors' duty of care - whether it is necessary to take account of the drafting of the entire document Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) ss 5A, 5B, 5D, 5E Professional Standards Act 1994 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; 239 CLR 420 Australian Hardboards Ltd v Hudson Investment Group Ltd [2006] NSWCA 146 Donnellan v Woodland [2012] NSWCA 433 Equuscorp Pty Ltd v Glengallen Investments Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 55; 218 CLR 471 Henville v Walker [2001] HCA 52; 206 CLR 459 Heydon v NRMA Ltd [2000] NSWCA 374; 51 NSWLR 1 Hudson Investment Group Ltd v Atanaskovic [2013] NSWSC 64 Hudson Investment Group Ltd v Australian Hardboards Ltd [2005] NSWSC 931 Hudson Investment Group Ltd v Australian Hardboards Ltd [2006] HCATrans 617 Hudson Investment Group Pty Ltd v Australian Hardboards Ltd [2005] NSWSC 716 Hudson Investment Group v Australian Hardboards Ltd [2006] NSWSC 840 M'Kew v Holland & Hannen & Cubitts (Scotland) Ltd [1970] SC (HL) 20 Manzi v Smith [1975] HCA 35; 132 CLR 671 March v E. & M.H. Stramare Pty Limited [1991] HCA 12; 171 CLR 506 Paul v Cooke [2013] NSWCA 311 Re York Street Mezzanine Pty Ltd (in liq) [2007] FCA 922; 162 FCR 358 Roe v Minister for Health [1954] 2 QB 66 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; 246 CLR 182 Trust Co of Australia v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd (1987) 42 NSWLR 237 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; 87 ALJR 648 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hudson Investment Group Limited (Appellant) John Ljubomir Atanaskovic (First Respondent) Diana Angela Chang (Second Respondent) Daniel Lee Farrugia (Third Respondent) Anthony Geoffrey Hartnell (Fourth Respondent) John Edward Mannix (Fifth Respondent) Mark Stephen Pistilli (Sixth Respondent) Daniel David Simmons (Seventh Respondent) Representation: Counsel: N C Hutley SC / N E Furlan (Appellant) D F Jackson QC / D F C Thomas (Respondents)