Versi v Buttrose

In *Versi v Buttrose* [1993] NSWCA 279, the New South Wales Court of Appeal considered a dispute between the appellant, Versi, and the respondent, Buttrose. The case concerned an appeal against a judgment of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

The primary legal issue before the Court of Appeal was whether the primary judge had erred in finding that the respondent had established a claim for negligent misstatement. This involved determining whether the respondent had relied on the appellant's representations to their detriment, and whether those representations were made in circumstances where the appellant owed a duty of care to the respondent.

The Court of Appeal analysed the principles of negligent misstatement, particularly in the context of professional advice. It considered the elements required to establish such a claim, including the existence of a special relationship between the parties, the speaker's knowledge that the listener would rely on the information, and the reasonableness of that reliance. The Court reviewed the evidence presented at trial to assess whether these elements had been satisfied.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, upholding the primary judge's finding that the respondent had successfully established a claim for negligent misstatement. The orders of the Supreme Court were affirmed.