Lawarra Nominees Pty Ltd v Wilson

Lawarra Nominees Pty Ltd (the appellant) appealed to the New South Wales Court of Appeal against a decision of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The dispute concerned the appellant's claim for damages against the respondent for alleged breaches of contract and negligence arising from the respondent's conduct as a solicitor.

The Court of Appeal was required to determine whether the Supreme Court had erred in finding that the respondent had not breached his contractual obligations to the appellant and had not acted negligently in his professional capacity. Specifically, the court had to consider the scope of the respondent's retainer and whether his actions fell below the standard of care expected of a reasonably competent solicitor.

The Court of Appeal analysed the evidence and the terms of the retainer agreement between the parties. It found that the Supreme Court had correctly interpreted the scope of the respondent's instructions and that the respondent's conduct, viewed in light of those instructions and the circumstances at the time, did not constitute a breach of contract or negligence. The court affirmed the legal principle that a solicitor is not liable for errors in judgment unless those errors are so unreasonable that no reasonably competent solicitor would have made them.

The appeal was dismissed, and the orders of the Supreme Court were affirmed.