Steinmetz v Shannon [2019] NSWCA 114

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Steinmetz v Shannon [2019] NSWCA 114 Hearing dates: Friday, 15 February 2019 Date of orders: 17 May 2019 Decision date: 17 May 2019 Before: White JA at [1]; Brereton JA at [67]; Simpson AJA at [151] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the orders of the primary judge of 16 July 2018. 3. In lieu therefore, order that in addition to the provision made for her by clause 6 of the will dated 19 September 2016 of Geoffrey Leslie Steinmetz deceased, but in lieu of the provision made for her by clause 7 thereof, the appellant Gayle Maria Warr Steinmetz receive from the estate of the deceased a legacy of $1,750,000, such legacy not to bear interest if paid within 90 days, but otherwise to bear interest at the rate prescribed for unpaid legacies. 4. Respondent pay appellant's costs of the appeal and of the proceedings at first instance. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – family provision – claim by widow who was second wife – where estate substantial – where will left annuity to widow and balance of estate to children of first marriage – relevance of testamentary freedom – guidelines relating to widows' claims – annuities – adequate provision for proper maintenance and advancement Legislation Cited: Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s 75(2), s 79 Succession Act 2006 (NSW) s 59, s 60, s 80(2)(b) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 75A Cases Cited: Alexander v Jansson [2010] NSWCA 176 Anderson (deceased), Re (1975) 11 SASR 276 Andrew v Andrew (2012) 81 NSWLR 656; [2012] NSWCA 308 Bladwell v Davis [2004] NSWCA 170 Blore v Lang (1960) 104 CLR 124; [1960] HCA 73 Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 275 Burke v Burke [2015] NSWCA 195 Chapple v Wilcox (2014) 87 NSWLR 646; [2014] NSWCA 392 Court v Hunt (Supreme Court (NSW), Young J, 29 October 1987, unreported) DJ Singh v DH Singh [2018] NSWCA 30 Elliott v Elliott (Court of Appeal (NSW), Kirby P, Glass and McHugh JJA, 24 April 1986, unreported) Elliott v Elliott (Supreme Court (NSW), Powell J, 18 May 1984, unreported) Ford v Simes [2009] NSWCA 351 Fulop Deceased, Re (1987) 8 NSWLR 679 Gardiner v Gardiner (Supreme Court (NSW), Santow J, 28 May 1998, unreported) Gargano v Coves [2018] NSWSC 985 Golosky v Golosky [1993] NSWCA 111 Goodman v Windeyer (1980) 144 CLR 490; [1980] HCA 31 Gorton v Parks (1989) 17 NSWLR 1 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Hughes v National Trustees, Executors and Agency Co of Australasia Ltd (1979) 143 CLR 134; [1979] HCA 2 Kearns v Ellis (Court of Appeal (NSW), Glass, Mahoney and McHugh JJA, 5 December 1984, unreported) Luciano v Rosenblum (1985) 2 NSWLR 65 Madden-Smith v Madden [2012] NSWSC 146 O'Loughlin v O'Loughlin [2003] NSWCA 99 Palmer v Dolman [2005] NSWCA 361 Paton v Public Trustee (Supreme Court (NSW), Young J, 8 December 1988, unreported) Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales (1962) 107 CLR 9; [1962] HCA 19 Sgro v Thompson [2017] NSWCA 326 Singer v Berghouse (No 2) (1994) 181 CLR 201; [1994] HCA 40 Slack v Rogan (2013) 85 NSWLR 253; [2013] NSWSC 522 Steinmetz v Shannon [2018] NSWSC 1090 Stewart v McDougall (Supreme Court (NSW), Young J, 19 November 1987, unreported) Taylor v Farrugia [2009] NSWSC 801 Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191; [2005] HCA 11 Wardy v Salier [2014] NSWSC 473 Will of Gilbert, Re (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318 Yee v Yee [2017] NSWCA 305 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gayle Maria Warr Steinmetz (Appellant) Nicole Shannon (First Respondent) James Steinmetz (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: L Ellison SC with B Narula (Appellant) R D Wilson SC with M Robertson (Respondents)