by Paul Cutler | Aug 17, 2009 | Uncategorised
I received an invitation today to the inaugural common law dinner to be held on 26th of August 2009, to mark the occasion of the 81st anniversary of a momentous event in the history of the common law. What was that event? It was the day that Mrs May Donoghue drank a...
by Paul Cutler | Aug 11, 2009 | Uncategorised
Some of my favourite statutory definitions are in the NSW Security Interests in Goods Act, for instance: 1. “stock” includes any sheep, goats, cattle, horses, swine, poultry, alpacas, llamas, ostriches or other animals (except fish) 2. “fish”...
by Paul Cutler | Jul 29, 2009 | Uncategorised
Ned Kelly is probably Australia’s best known bushranger (i.e. outlaw) and there is something quirky about a barrister having a painting of a famous criminal in his room (but nevertheless that’s what I’ve done). I commissioned this work from Brisbane...
by Paul Cutler | Jul 11, 2009 | Uncategorised
Rules of professional conduct provide that lawyers should treat each other professionally and respectfully. Unfortunately it doesn’t always happen and sometimes aggressive or demeaning correspondence is exchanged. The rule in litigation is of course, don’t...
by Paul Cutler | Jun 28, 2009 | Uncategorised
“The Ethics of Advocacy” is the title of a two part essay by John V Barry (a former judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria) published in the Australian Law Journal – (1941) 15 ALJ 166. There are several inspiring passages in the papers, but two...
by Paul Cutler | Jun 18, 2009 | Uncategorised
It’s good to see that Justice Neville Owen (who conducted the HIH Royal Commission) managed to maintain his sense of humour when he delivered his 2614 page judgment in Bell Group v Westpac [2008] WASC 239. The case was Australia’s longest running corporate...