Gillies v Moir
[2014] NSWSC 1481
At a glance
Source factsCourt
Supreme Court of NSW
Decision date
2014-10-31
Before
Garling J
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Judgment (12 paragraphs)
Judgment 1This judgment deals with the applications by the defendants in these proceedings for summary dismissal of the proceedings. 2The applications were brought by Notices of Motion dated 21 May 2014, 21 July 2014 and 3 September 2014, and came before the Court in the Duty List in circumstances where the plaintiff, although served, did not appear. 3For the reasons below, I have determined that the applications of the defendants for summary dismissal should be granted, and orders giving effect to that conclusion should be made.
The Plaintiff's Claim 4The plaintiff, Mr Gillies, commenced proceedings by a Statement of Claim filed on 9 December 2013. 5The Statement of Claim named the first defendant as Nicholas Moir & Associates Pty Ltd, and the second defendant as Harris Wheeler Lawyers. The claim as against the first named defendant was said to have arisen from the plaintiff's retainer of Mr Nicholas Moir, and as against the second named defendant, from its conduct in representing a party opposed to the plaintiff in previous proceedings. 6On 9 April 2014, the plaintiff filed an Amended Statement of Claim which named the following as defendants: (a)First Defendant - Nicholas David Moir, who it was pleaded was the former principal of Nicholas Moir & Associates Pty Ltd; (b)Second Defendants - Brian Glendenning, Matthew Smith, Tony Cardilo and John Williams, who it was pleaded were the partners of Harris Wheeler Lawyers at the relevant time ; and (c)Third Defendant - Chris O'Brien, who it was pleaded, was the principal of O'Brien Winter Partners Pty Ltd. 7The relief claimed in the Amended Statement of Claim is as follows: "1. A declaration that the plaintiff is entitled to $15,038,192.30 damages in respect of the cause of action adopted by the First Defendant and the Second Defendant's and Third Defendant's unlawful registered caveats filed against the Plaintiff's properties which subsequently led to the Plaintiff declaring bankruptcy, as pleaded here within 2. A declaration that the Plaintiff is owed $39,680.00 for breach of contract being the balance from the $60,000.00 personal loan provided to the First Defendant by the Plaintiff. 3. A declaration that the Plaintiff is owed $33,000.00 for breach of contract in respect of Dr Jo Tibbits account which was provided to the First Defendant 3a. That the Plaintiff is entitled to Damages as a result of the Malicious Prosecution tactics adopted by the First Defendant, and the Second Defendant's; and the Third Defendant Chris O'Brien as he was complicit in the fraudulent behaviours at the time when Nicolas Moir was the principal of Nicholas Moir & Associates Pty Ltd pursuant to s 55(3)(b) of the Limitation Act 1969. 4. Damages - breach of contract. 5. Equitable damages. 6. Interest. 7. Costs." (sic) 8The Amended Statement of Claim then occupies 159 paragraphs of pleadings spread over approximately 26 pages or so. It makes a number of allegations against each of the defendants, without necessarily articulating with any precision, causes of action or associated claims for relief. 9To the extent that the pleading can be understood, it seems that it is alleged by the plaintiff that the first defendant, a solicitor, was retained by him between 17 February 2004 and 15 August 2005, to act in a number of pieces of litigation. 10The plaintiff appears to plead that on 15 August 2005, the relationship of solicitor and client ceased, because it is alleged that on that day he arrived at the office of the first defendant to take delivery of his files, some of which were provided to him. He was also provided with a copy of a Notice of Motion in an existing proceeding in the Newcastle District Court seeking orders which permitted the first defendant to cease to act for the plaintiff. 11Further, the plaintiff pleads that on 15 August 2005, he wrote a letter to the second defendants notifying them that the first defendant was no longer acting for him. 12It appears from the pleading that during the time the first defendant was retained by the plaintiff, he acted for him in civil proceedings in the District Court of NSW brought against the plaintiff by Ms Lisa Eastlake. As well, the plaintiff pleads that the first defendant acted for him in several criminal matters brought against him by the police on the complaints of Ms Eastlake and a Ms Oszko. 13So far as the civil proceedings brought against the plaintiff by Ms Eastlake are pleaded, Ms Eastlake claimed a sum of money from the plaintiff pursuant to what she said was a written agreement and, apparently, in the alternative, pursuant to a de facto relationship. It appears that Ms Eastlake considered herself to have a registrable interest in a number of properties owned by the plaintiff and had lodged caveats upon those properties to protect such interest. 14The plaintiff pleads that those caveats were invalid and unlawful, that their existence meant that he did not receive the benefit of a loan which he had negotiated, and that as a consequence, his financial position was such that he was forced to relinquish the properties and file for bankruptcy. 15The plaintiff alleges that the first defendant is legally liable to him for these losses as a consequence of his conduct, in his capacity as a solicitor. In broad terms, the plaintiff alleges that the first defendant failed to advise him in respect of the 'unlawful' caveats, failed to investigate alleged fraudulent conduct by Ms Eastlake, encouraged Ms Eastlake to commence proceedings to generate legal fees and acted outside instructions with respect to settlement discussions with Ms Eastlake. He also alleges that the first defendant filed a 'fraudulent' proof of debt for unpaid legal fees in the plaintiff's bankruptcy proceedings. 16In respect of the various criminal matters brought against the plaintiff, he alleges that the first defendant is liable for damages for failing to; (2)Subpoena police records in the sexual assault proceedings brought with Ms Eastlake as complainant, (3)Make a no bill application in the sexual assault proceedings brought with Ms Eastlake as complainant, (4)Make an application for costs in the sexual assault proceedings brought with Ms Eastlake as complainant, (5)Institute proceedings against the police for malicious prosecution of the sexual assault proceedings brought with Ms Eastlake as complainant, (6)Institute proceedings against the police for wrongful imprisonment when held in custody bail refused in a matter involving an Apprehended Violence Order, (7)Make an application for costs in police assault proceedings, and; (8)Institute proceedings for wrongful arrest and assault against the State of New South Wales. 17As well, the plaintiff makes allegations against the first defendant for breach of contract. First, in the nature of a claim in debt, with respect to a sum of money it is alleged was not repaid from a loan made by the plaintiff. Secondly, in the nature of a claim for monies had and received for the payment of an expert report which is alleged to have remained unpaid. 18The second defendants, who were the partners of Harris Wheeler, acted at one time or another for Ms Eastlake. As her solicitors, they were responsible for the lodging of the caveats which the plaintiff did not accept were valid or lawful. 19In various ways, the plaintiff pleads that the second defendants; "contributed to the Plaintiff being forced into Bankruptcy, as a result of their actions by placing unlawful caveats over the Plaintiff's properties." 20It seems that the third defendant, Mr O'Brien, is alleged in a way which is not at all clear, to be liable to the plaintiff for part of the conduct of the first defendant. 21Of significance, in the Amended Statement of Claim, the plaintiff pleads a number of facts relevant to his bankruptcy. He alleges: "66. On 31 August 2005, as evidence in writing, the plaintiff appoints Jirsch Sutherland as controlling trustee over his assets as a result of the caveats, entering into (later abandoned on 12 October 2005 at $20,000) Part 10 bankruptcy proceedings." 22As identified earlier, the plaintiff pleads that the first defendant (and further, the third defendant, Chris O'Brien complicit) filed a fraudulent proof of debt against him in that bankruptcy which was later alleged to have been abandoned. 23Further in the pleading, the plaintiff alleges that the first and third defendants, Mr Moir and Mr O'Brien, attended at a creditors meeting on 12 October 2005, held for the purposes of his bankruptcy.