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Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002
190Onus on lawyer to show facts provided reasonable
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190 Onus on lawyer to show facts provided reasonable
(1) For this part, it must be presumed that legal services were provided
for a client by a lawyer on a claim for damages, or in defence of a
claim for damages, without the claim or defence having reasonable
prospects of success if—
(a) the trial court hearing the action finds that the facts established
by the evidence before the court do not form the basis for a belief
on reasonable grounds that the claim or defence had reasonable
prospects of success; or
(b) the Supreme Court (if it is not the trial court) is satisfied, because
of a finding, or the judgment, of the trial court, that the facts
established by the evidence before the trial court do not form the
basis for a belief on reasonable grounds that the claim or defence
had reasonable prospects of success.
(2) The lawyer can rebut the presumption by establishing that, when the
legal services were provided, there were provable facts that provided
a basis for a belief on reasonable grounds that the claim or defence
had reasonable prospects of success.
Costs in damages claims if no reasonable prospects of success Part 14.2
(3) For the purpose of rebutting the presumption, a lawyer may disclose
information or a document despite client legal privilege (including
any duty of confidentiality to a client) if—
(a) the client is the client for whom the legal services were provided;
or
(b) the client consents to the disclosure; or
(c) the court is satisfied that the disclosure is necessary for the
lawyer to rebut the presumption.