Malouf v Constantinou [2017] NSWSC 923

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Malouf v Constantinou [2017] NSWSC 923 Hearing dates: 8, 9 June 2017 Date of orders: 13 July 2017 Decision date: 13 July 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Parker J Decision: Plaintiff's claim dismissed Catchwords: Contracts – retainer between solicitor and client – guarantee – construction – multiple contractual documents – main object of contract – deferral of costs – termination of retainer – acceleration of deferred costs – charges of property – consent to lodgement of caveat – issue of tax invoices – interest – repugnancy Contracts – retainer between solicitor and client – solicitor's costs charged on real property – caveat – lapsing notice – termination – repudiation – breach of non-essential term – repudiatory intention Equity – fiduciary duties – solicitor and client – security for costs of solicitor – breach – conflict of duty and personal interest – adequacy of disclosure Equity – undue influence – solicitor and client – security for costs of solicitor – relationship of influence – adequacy of disclosure Occupations – solicitors – entitlement to take security – reasonableness of security Legislation Cited: Attorneys and Solicitors Act 1870 (UK) (33 & 34 Vict c 28), ss 4, 8, 9, 16 Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW) Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 209, 212 Conveyancing (Solicitors' Remuneration) Amendment Act 1984 (NSW), s 3 Legal Practitioners Act 1898 (NSW), ss, 20T, 20U, 20V Legal Profession Act 1987 (NSW), ss 191, 207 Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW), s 320 Legal Profession Reform Act 1993 (NSW), Sch 3 Legal Practitioners (Solicitors' Remuneration) Amendment Act 1984 (NSW), Sch 1 Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), ss 195, 206 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Solicitors Act 1843 (UK) (6 & 7 Vict c 73) Solicitors' Remuneration Act 1881 (UK) (44 & 45 Vict c 44), ss 5, 8 Cases Cited: Beach Petroleum NL v Kennedy (1999) 48 NSWLR 1; [1999] NSWCA 408 Blythe v Northwood (2005) 63 NSWLR 531; [2005] NSWCA 221 Brickenden v Lending Loan Savings Co [1934] 3 DLR 465 Clare v Joseph [1907] 2 KB 369 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447; [1983] HCA 14 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423; [1978] HCA 12 Egan v Burnight (1914) 34 SD 473; 149 NW 176 Firth v Centrelink (2002) 55 NSWLR 451; [2002] NSWSC 564 Glynn v Margetson & Co [1893] AC 351 Jones v Baker (2002) 10 BPR 19,115; [2002] NSWSC 89 Jones v Tripp (1821) Jac 322; 37 ER 873 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd (2007) 233 CLR 115; [2007] HCA 61 MJ Leonard Pty Ltd v Bristrol Custodians Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1734 Multi-Span Constructions No 1 Pty Ltd v 14 Portland Street Pty Ltd (2001) 10 BPR 19,253; [2001] NSWSC 696 Phelan v Middle States Oil Corp (1955) 220 F (2d) 593 Re Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance; Ex parte Hoyts Corp Pty Ltd (No 1) (1993) 178 CLR 379; [1993] HCA 40 Westmelton (Vic) Pty Ltd v Archer & Shulman [1982] VR 305 Weston v Connor (Supreme Court of Appeal (Vic), 9 February 1998, unrep) Woolf v Snipe (1933) 48 CLR 677; [1933] HCA 5 Zamet v Hyman [1961] 1 WLR 1442 Texts Cited: House of Lords Debate (21 June 1864) vol 176 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Anthony Mark Malouf (Plaintiff) Neil Constantinou (First Defendant) Chris Constantinou (Second Defendant) Thora Constantinou (Third Defendant) Representation: Second and Third Defendants in person