Preston v Nikolaidis [2017] NSWSC 1527

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Preston v Nikolaidis [2017] NSWSC 1527 Hearing dates: 26, 27, 28 October 2015, 25 Nov 2015, 17 December 2015, 29 February 2016, 5 April and 5 May 2016, 29 August 2016, 20 September 2016 Date of orders: 17 November 2017 Decision date: 17 November 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Slattery J Decision: Declarations sought made. Claims on defendants' bills of costs extinguished as relevant limitation period has expired. Directions made to deal with remaining issues. Catchwords: LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – retainer – claim for payment of legal fees – whether claim extinguished under Limitation Act 1969, s 63 - whether proceedings for recovery of fees brought by solicitor – whether client pleaded the limitation issue – whether client estopped from relying on limitation issue.

COSTS – solicitor/client – recovery – bill of costs – whether solicitor provided bill of costs – whether bill of costs sent for assessment – whether assessment is an "action" for the purposes of the Limitation Act. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005, ss 60, 98(4)(c) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 300(1) Legal Profession Act 1987 (NSW), ss 199, 200, 203, 206(1), 208, Part 11 Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Legal Profession Reform Act 1993 No. 87 (NSW), Part 11 Legal Profession Regulation 1994 (NSW), Part 9, Division 3, clause 38(3) Limitation Act 1969, ss 14(1), 63 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), Part 72 r 8, Part 52, Division 7 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules, r 42.4 Cases Cited: Attorney-General (NSW) v Kennedy Miller Television Pty Ltd (1998) 43 NSWLR 729 Australasian Performing Rights Assoc Ltd v Marlin [1999] FCA 1006 Beach Petroleum NL v Johnson (No. 2) (1995) 57 FCR 119 Camillo Tank SS Co Ltd v Alexandria Engineering Works (1922) 38 TLR 134 Coshott v Barry and Anor [2012] NSWSC 850 Hamod v New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 375 Lownds v Home Office [2002] 4 All ER 775 Nikolaidis v R [2008] NSWCCA 323 Nudd v Mannix [2009] NSWCA 327 Rogers v The Queen (1994) 1 CLR 251 Sherborne Estate (No. 2): Vanvalen v Neaves (2005) 65 NSWLR 268 Windsurf Holdings Pty Ltd v Leonard; Carlson v Leonard; Wyvill v Leonard [2009] NSWCA 6 Category: Principal judgment Parties: In proceedings1993/23395: