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[2019] ACAT 11
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal
2019-01-25
Original judgment source is linked above.
In reply to Charge 3 in paragraph 46, I deny the allegation that the misappropriation was in breach of the common law. In particular, I say:
(a) In response to paragraph 45(a), that I made the withdrawal of $295,644.45 in the honest and reasonable belief that I was doing so legally, and without knowledge or belief that I should not have done so.
(b) In response to paragraph 45(b), that whilst I intended to withdraw the funds, such conduct is not objectively dishonest by the standards of reasonable, honest people.[18]
The potential irregularity was brought to [the respondent's] attention by one of [the respondent's] employees and has been confirmed as a potential irregularity by [the respondent's] external auditor.[19]
My conduct was not done in secrecy. Instead, the conduct was made in consultation and with the advice of three barristers, one solicitor, with the full knowledge of the clients (albeit without their consent), and the full knowledge of the client's other solicitors [Mr PB].[20]
I should say, by way of explanation, that at the time I authorised the withdrawal I believed that the combination of the terms of my costs agreements with [the clients] and section 62(3)(a)(i) of the Regulation permitted me to make it. I discussed what I proposed to do with counsel. I understood from that discussion that there was no impediment to the withdrawal. However, looking back, I acknowledge that this was done on an informal basis. I did not actually brief counsel with copies of my costs agreements, nor did I discuss the procedural details.[22]
At no stage were you asked by [the respondent] to give advice of that nature? as in 'by that nature' I mean the relevant law which applied to dealing with trust money?--- That's correct.[23]
COUNSEL FOR THE APPLICANT: So would it be fair to say this: the advice which you gave was limited to the effect of the order which had been made by the Court?---Yes, that was the scope of the discussion.[24]
COUNSEL FOR THE APPLICANT: It's clear from what you have said in this statement that you said to [the clients] "I want your authority to access funds claimed under my lien to pay your costs." It's clear that you put that to them. Do you accept that?---Yes.
And they declined to give you that authority?---Yes.
You didn't explain to them ... that in order to pay your costs in matter 10035 you needed to transfer funds which were held on their behalf in matter 10043 to matter 10035. That's the case, isn't it?---I would have explained that to them because that was the only place the money was.
Well ... do you accept that you are giving this evidence for the first time?---This is the first time I've given evidence on this matter.
Well, no, that's not correct ... You've prepared two affidavits in respect of this matter. That's the case, isn't it?---Well, I've given a lot of evidence prior ... to today.
Can you answer my question? You have prepared two affidavits in respect of this matter. That's the case, isn't it?---Yes.
And in neither of those affidavits do you say that you explained to [the clients] at the meeting on [8] September 2015 that to pay your costs in matter 10035, you needed to transfer funds held on their behalf in matter 10043 to matter 10035. You don't say in those affidavits that you gave that explanation to them, do you?---No.[30]
COUNSEL FOR THE APPLICANT: The authority which you sought from the clients on 8 September 2015 was to withdraw funds held on trust for them to pay legal costs which you claimed against them. Correct?---Yes.
And they declined to provide you with that authority. Correct?---Yes.
After they declined to provide that authority you didn't say to them that you were going to go ahead regardless and withdraw funds held on trust for them to pay your legal costs. That's the case, isn't it?---No.
You didn't say that to them. Is that correct?---No.
You didn't say it. Sometimes less confusion as to whether you're denying the proposition or, so let me be clear about it. What I'm putting to you, [the respondent], is that at that meeting you asked for authority to pay your costs from funds held on trust for [the clients]. We've already established that. Correct?---Yes.
You did not say to [the clients] regardless of your refusal to give me authority I am still going to withdraw funds on trust to pay legal costs. You didn't say that to them, did you?---I did.
[To the respondent], you haven't set this out in either of your affidavits, have you, sir?---No.[34]
COUNSEL FOR THE APPLICANT: And at the time that you had these discussions with Mr Erskine, Mr Erskine was briefed on behalf of [the clients], correct?---Yes.
And if he had given advice in relation to how you could deal with their trust money, that was advice which they were entitled to have the benefit of, correct?---Yes.
But you never gave them this advice which you say you received from Mr Erskine, correct?---No.
When did you give them the advice?---At the meeting that we had at - on the evening of Tuesday the - the 8 September.
... do you say that at that meeting you told [the clients] that Mr Erskine had given you advice approving of your proposal to transfer money from [trust] to pay your costs, is that what you are saying?---Yes.
And you haven't set out in either of your affidavits ... that you told them that. That's the case, isn't it?---I don't recall stating in my affidavit that I had received Mr Erskine's advice.[38]
Frequently, it is very damaging to the credibility of a plaintiff's case if important evidence relating to it emerges only late in the course of evidence. The reason for this is that the Court is usually justified in assuming that the legal representatives of a plaintiff embarking on something as significant and potentially expensive as Supreme Court litigation will properly proof their client, obtain from their client all relevant details of the story relevant to the case, and include that material in affidavits in chief.
In a case in which it is necessary for a jury to decide whether an act is dishonest, the proper course is for the trial judge to identify the knowledge, belief or intent which is said to render that act dishonest and to instruct the jury to decide whether the accused had that knowledge, belief or intent and, if so, to determine whether, on that account, the act was dishonest ... If the question is whether the act was dishonest according to ordinary notions, it is sufficient that the jury be instructed that that is to be decided by the standards of ordinary, decent people.
The Applicant contends that the Respondent's conduct at the time of the transfer of 9 September 2015 was deliberate. He was aware of a pending Garnishee Order (issued in favour of Rural Bank). On the next day [8 September 2015] he sought authority to pay the sum of $295,644.45 from trust for costs and disbursements. In transferring the funds to matter 10035 by unilateral journal transfer on 9 September 2015 (noting the client's refusal to allow use of the funds under matter 10043) the Respondent did not act in the best interests of his clients and preferred his own interests to those of his clients. The journal entry and subsequent withdrawal was either performed by the Respondent dishonestly with the knowledge and a belief that he should not have transferred the funds to matter 10035 and then withdrawn the funds from the firm's trust account or, alternatively, such conduct is objectively dishonest by the ordinary standards of reasonable, honest people, irrespective of whether the Respondent had a subjective dishonest intention to misappropriate the funds.
I have relied on clause 19 of my Cost Agreement with [the clients] dated 13 August 2014, and I have transferred the funds subject to my lien to my office account this morning. I intend to disburse these funds on account of my unpaid costs and disbursements in the usual manner.[47]
My motivation for the journal transfer was that the client's owed me money for legal costs and disbursements, and I believed that the terms of the existing cost agreements entitled me to transfer the subject funds. This belief was based on the advice I sought from Mr Andrew Fernon, Mr Geoff Farland, Mr Chris Erskine SC, and my employed solicitor prior to performing the transactions.[48]
prior to you [the respondent] authorising this transfer you looked at your costs agreements in matter 10035 and matter 10043. Is that correct?---Yes.
You knew ... that there was nothing in either of those costs agreements that dealt specifically with the transfer of funds from one trust ledger account to another. That's the case, isn't it?---Correct.[51]
... when you authorised this transfer ... you did not honestly believe that you had any entitlement to authorise it. That's the case, isn't it?---No.[52]
(a) the law practice is entitled to withdraw the money and pay it to the other trust ledger account; and
(a) by an authorised principal of the law practice; or
(b) if a principal mentioned in paragraph (a) is not available -
(i) by an authorised legal practitioner associate; or
(ii) by an authorised Australian legal practitioner who holds an unrestricted practising certificate authorising the receipt of trust money; or
(iii) by 2 or more authorised associates jointly; or
(b) the trust ledger account from which the money is transferred (including its identifying reference);
(c) the trust ledger account to which the money is transferred (including its identifying reference);
(e) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the transfer is made, the matter reference and a short description of the matter.
associate means an associate of the law practice.
authorised means authorised by the law practice or an external intervener for the practice to effect, direct or give authority for the transfer of trust money by journal entry from 1 trust ledger account in the practice's trust ledger to another trust ledger account in the trust ledger.
_external intervener - _see the Act, section 473 (1).
62 Withdrawing trust money for legal costs - Act, s 229 (1) (b)
(i) the money is withdrawn in accordance with a costs agreement that complies with the legislation under which it is made and that authorises the withdrawal; or
(ii) the money is withdrawn in accordance with instructions that have been received by the practice and that authorise the withdrawal; or
(iii) the money is owed to the practice by way of reimbursement of money already paid by the practice on behalf of the person; and
(b) if, before effecting the withdrawal, the practice gives or sends to the person -
(i) a request for payment, referring to the proposed withdrawal; or
(i) the person has not objected to withdrawal of the money not later than 7 days after being given the bill; or
(ii) the person has objected not later than 7 days after being given the bill but has not applied for a review of the legal costs under the Act not later than 60 days after being given the bill; or
[1] Exhibit RR1 to Exhibit 1 pages 269-270
[4] Exhibit RR1 to Exhibit 1 pages 280-281
[5] Exhibit RR1 to Exhibit 1 pages 206-207
[10] Exhibit RR1 to Exhibit 1 pages 82-83
[15] Exhibit RR1 to Exhibit 1 pages 232-233
[21] Exhibit RR1 of Exhibit 1 page 2 [11]
[22] Exhibit RR1 to Exhibit 1 page 3 [4]
[23] Transcript of proceedings 7 November 2018 page 13, line 40
[24] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 67, lines 26-28
[25] Transcript of proceedings 7 November 2018 page 6, line 9
[26] Transcript of proceedings 7 November 2018 page 6, line 2
[27] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 17
[28] Exhibit RR1 to Exhibit 1 pages 111-112
[29] Transcript of proceedings 7 November 2018 pages 17-20
[30] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 23-24
[31] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 24
[32] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 35, line 41; page 57, line 28
[34] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 27, lines 20-45
[35] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 29, line 20
[37] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 54, lines 44-47
[38] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 55
[39] Exhibit RR1 of Exhibit 1 pages 3-4
[42] Exhibit RR1 of Exhibit 1 pages 164 to 166
[43] Exhibit RR1 of Exhibit 1 page 164 [3d]
[44] Exhibit RR1 of Exhibit 1 page 164 [3e]
[49] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 26, lines 18-20
[50] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 15, lines 33-35
[51] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 26, lines 22-26
[52] Transcript of proceedings 6 November 2018 page 26, lines 29-31
COUNCIL OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF THE ACT
LEGAL PRACTITIONER 201809
Cases cited: Brereton v Legal Service Commissioner [2010] VSC 378
Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; (1938) 60 CLR 336
Council of the Law Society of the Australian Capiutal Territory v The Legal Practitioner (Stephen Stubbs) [2010] ACAT 2
White v Shortall [2006] NSWSC 1379
(1938) 60 CLR 336
(1930) 60 CLR 336