Ms Kirsty McLaren (in her capacity as executrix of the estate of Mr William George McLaren) v Hugo White Pty Ltd trading as Sautelle White Lawyers [2018] NSWDC 226

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ms Kirsty McLaren (in her capacity as executrix of the estate of Mr William George McLaren) v Hugo White Pty Ltd trading as Sautelle White Lawyers [2018] NSWDC 226 Hearing dates: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 31 August; 30 October 2017; 13 July 2018 (written submissions) Date of orders: 27 July 2018 Decision date: 27 July 2018 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: P Taylor SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff against the defendants in the sum of $290,123.96. (2) Costs reserved. Catchwords: TORT – professional negligence – legal profession – solicitor – client seeking to amend will – power of attorney – appointment of guardian – registered proprietor - client with early stage dementia – protection of property – real estate – unmortgaged – missing Certificate of Title – held by former partner – allegations of dishonesty about former partner – whether caveat should be lodged – transfer – joint tenants – survivorship – severance of joint tenancy - causation – limitation period – latent defect in title – whether negligence precluded bringing of proceedings – effect of other proceedings that could mitigate loss – quantum – loss of opportunity – valuable opportunity – prospects – damages - value of chance Legislation Cited: Administration and Probate Act 1958 (Vic), Pt IV Civil Liability Act 2002, s 5, s 5A, s 5B, s 5D Limitation Act 1969, s 14 Property Law Act 1958 (Vic), s 72 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), s 97 Transfer of Land Act 1958 (Vic), s 104, s 137 Cases Cited: Anderson v Anderson [2017] NSWCA 131 Anning v Anning (1907) 4 CLR 1049; [1907] HCA 13 Badenach v Calvert [2016] HCA 18 Brunker v Perpetual Trustee Co (Ltd) (1937) 57 CLR 555 Chapman v Hearse (1961) 106 CLR 112 Christopoulous v Angelos (1996) 41 NSWLR 700 Cope v Keene (1968) 118 CLR 1 Corin v Patton (1990) 169 CLR 540; [1990] HCA 12 Currey v Federal Building Society (1929) 42 CLR 421 Davis v Williams (2003) 11 BPR 21,313 Finucane v Registrar of Titles [1902] St R Qd 75 Freed v Taffel [1984] 2 NSWLR 322 Hawkins v Clayton (1988) 164 CLR 539 In re Wilks; Child v Bulmer [1891] 3 Ch 59 Isin v Ozen [2017] NSWCA 316 Issa v Issa & Anor [2015] NSWSC 112 J A Westaway & Son Pty Ltd v Registrar-General (1996) 7 BPR 14,773 Macedo v Stroud [1922] 2 AC 330 Mal Owen Consulting Pty Ltd v Ashcroft [2018] NSWCA 135 McNab v Earle [1981] 2 NSWLR 673 McVey v Denis (1984) 73 FLR 45 Motor Auction Pty Ltd & Brown as liquidator of John Joyce Wholesale Cars PL v John Joyce Wholesale Cars Pty Ltd (1997) 23 ACSR 647 National Trustees, Executors and Agency Co of Australasia Ltd v Boyd (1926) 39 CLR 72 O'Regan v Commissioner of Stamp Duties [1921] QSR 283 Re Murdoch & Barry (1975) 64 DLR (3d) 222 Re Sammon (1979) 94 DLR (3d) 594 Re Skinner (1894) 6 QLJ 68 Registrar-General v Cleaver (1996) 41 NSWLR 713 Rosenberg v Percival (2001) 205 CLR 434 Samuel v District Land Registrar [1984] 2 NZLR 697 Scarcella v Lettice (2000) 51 NSWLR 302 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL; Poseidon Ltd v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332; [1994] HCA 4 Tierney v Halfpenny (1883) 9 VLR (E) 152 Wainewright v Elwell (1816) 1 Madd 627; 56 ER 231 Wallace v Kam (2013) 250 CLR 375 Wardley Australia Ltd v State of Western Australia (Rothwells Loan case) (1992) 175 CLR 514 Watt v Lord (2005) 62 NSWLR 495 Williams v Hensman (1861) 1 J & H 546; (1861) 70 ER 862 Texts Cited: J Tooher, "Testate or Intestate: Is There Anything for the Estate? Unilateral Severance of a Joint Tenancy" (1998) 24 Mon ULR 422 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ms Kirsty McLaren (in her capacity as executrix of the estate of Mr William George McLaren) (plaintiff) Hugo White Pty Ltd trading as Sautelle White Lawyers (first defendant) Hugo White (second defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr C Erskine SC and Mr D W Robertson (plaintiff) Ms M Avenell/Mr G P Craddock SC (defendants)