Martin v Cohen [2014] NSWDC 145

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Martin v Cohen [2014] NSWDC 145 Hearing dates: 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31 July, 1 and 4 August 2014 Decision date: 11 September 2014 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Levy SC DCJ Decision: 1.Verdict and judgment for the defendant; 2.The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs on the ordinary basis unless otherwise ordered; 3.The exhibits may be returned after the time for an appeal has expired; 4.Liberty to apply on 7 days notice if further orders are required. Catchwords: TORTS - alleged professional negligence - legal practitioner - professional services provided by solicitor - resolution of factual dispute concerning scope of retainer -whether coercion to settle underlying Supreme Court proceedings - whether breach of fiduciary duty - whether breach of duty of care concerning advice and implementation of instructions including in the course of advocacy - whether advocate's immunity established - whether causation of claimed losses established; DAMAGES - assessment of claimed losses Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002, s 5B, s 5D, s 5E, s 16 Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 100 Legal Profession Act 2004, s 347 Property (Relationship) Act 1984, s 20 Solicitors Rules, r 1 (The Law Society of New South Wales Professional Conduct and Practice Rules Legal Profession Act 1987) Cases Cited: Beach Petroleum NL v Abbott Tout Russell Kennedy [1999] NSWCA 408; (1999) 48 NSWLR 1 Boardman v Phipps [1966] UKHL 2; [1967] 2 AC 46 Bolkiah v KPMG [1998] UKHL 52; [1999] 2 AC 222. Chamberlain v Ormsby t/as Ormsby Flower [2005] NSWCA 454 Crédit Lyonnais SA v Russell Jones and Walker [2003] Lloyd's Rep PN 7 Donnellan v Woodland [2012] NSWCA 433 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12, (2005) 223 CLR 1 Giannarelli v Wraith [1988] HCA 52; (1988) 165 CLR 543 Jennings v Zihali-Kiss (1972) SASR 493 Lucantonio v Klienert [2009] NSWSC 853 Maguire v Makaronis [1997] HCA 23; (1997) 188 CLR 449; (1997) 144 ALR 729 Marshall v Prescott (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 1949 Permanent Trustee Australia Ltd v Boulton; Permanent Trustee Australia Ltd v Lynjoe Pty Ltd [1994] 33 NSWLR 735; Stillman v Rushbourne [2014] NSWSC 730 Strong v Woolworths [2012] HCA 5; (2012) 246 CLR 182 Studer v Boettcher [2000] NSWCA 263 Trust Company of Australia v Perpetual Trustee WA Limited (1997) 42 NSWLR 237 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 442 Texts Cited: Thomson Reuters Laws of Australia, (accessed as at 20 August 2014): 27 Professional Liability, 27.1 Fiduciary Duties [27.1.230] Category: Principal judgment Parties: Noel Charles Martin (Plaintiff) Andrew John Cohen (Defendant) Representation: Plaintiff in person Mr D Priestley (Defendant) Plaintiff in person Colin Biggers & Paisley (Defendant) File Number(s): 2012/47950 Publication restriction: None