Maguire v Makaronis; 25 Jun 1997

References: (1997) 188 CLR 449, [1997] HCA 23, (1997) 144 ALR 729, (1997) 71 ALJR 781
Links: Austlii
Coram: Brennan CJ, Gaudron, McHugh, Gummow, Kirby JJ
High Court of Australia – Equity – Fiduciary duties – Solicitor and client relationship – Mortgage by clients in favour of solicitors – Ascertainment of particular fiduciary duties.
Equity – Equitable remedies – Rescission – Relevance of causal connection between breach of fiduciary duty and execution of mortgage – Scope of equity for rescission – Whether clients required to ‘do equity’ by honouring contractual obligation to pay principal and interest secured by mortgage – Rate of interest payable on principal sum outstanding under mortgage.
Legal practitioners – Solicitor and client relationship – Mortgage by clients in favour of solicitors – Fiduciary duties – Equitable remedies.
‘In Australia, the measure of compensation in respect of losses sustained by reason of breach of duty by a trustee or other fiduciary is determined by equitable principles and . . these do not necessarily reflect the rules for assessment of damages in tort or contract.’
This case is cited by:

  • Cited – AIB Group (UK) Plc -v- Mark Redler & Co Solicitors SC (Bailii, [2014] UKSC 58, [2014] 3 WLR 1367, [2014] WLR(D) 466, WLRD, Bailii Summary, UKSC 2013/0052, SC, SC Summary)
    The court was asked as to the remedy available to the appellant bank against the respondent, a firm of solicitors, for breach of the solicitors’ custodial duties in respect of money entrusted to them for the purpose of completing a loan which was to . .

(This list may be incomplete)
Last Update: 05-Nov-15 Ref: 554208