Marshall v Prescott [2015] NSWCA 110

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Marshall v Prescott [2015] NSWCA 110 Hearing dates: 18 and 19 March 2015 Decision date: 28 April 2015 Before: Beazley P at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [98]; Emmett JA at [99] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: EQUITY – confidential information – where alleged confidential information was obtained as a result of retainer to act as solicitor – effect of concurrent retainers for different clients in the same matter EQUITY – confidential information – whether information was confidential – whether information alleged to be confidential was in the public domain – whether information alleged to be confidential was shared information as between different clients involved in the same matter CONTRACT – construction of terms of retainer to act as solicitor – content of retainer where client has no standing to bring claim Legislation Cited: Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) Cases Cited: ABC v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 63; 208 CLR 199 Beach Petroleum NL v Kennedy [1999] NSWCA 408; 48 NSWLR 1 Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (1951) 217 ALR 1 Bristol and West Building Society v Mothew [1998] Ch 1 Coco v A N Clark (Engineers) Ltd [1969] 65 RPC 41 Commonwealth v John Fairfax [1980] HCA 44; 147 CLR 39 Holloway v McFeeters [1956] HCA 25; 94 CLR 470 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298 Luxton v Vines [1952] HCA 19; 85 CLR 352 Maguire v Makaronis [1997] HCA 23; 188 CLR 449 Marshall v Carruthers [2002] NSWCA 47 Seager v Copydex Ltd [1967] 2 All ER 415 Smith Kline & French Laboratories (Aust) Ltd v Secretary, Department of Community Services and Health (1991) 22 FCR 73 Streetscape Projects (Australia) Pty Ltd v City of Sydney [2013] NSWCA 2 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, MJ Leeming, PG Turner, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines and Remedies, (LexisNexis Butterworths, 5th ed, 2014) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Margaret Lesley Marshall (Appellant) Kim Neil Marshall (Second Appellant) Michael Prescott (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Bevan; E Young (Appellants) J Kelly SC; Mr B McManus (Respondent)