Hamilton v State of New South Wales [2020] NSWSC 700

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hamilton v State of New South Wales [2020] NSWSC 700 Hearing dates: 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30 October 2018; 2 November 2018; 4 December 2018; and 7 March 2019 Date of orders: 05 June 2020 Decision date: 05 June 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Walton J Decision: The Court makes the following orders:

(1) The fourth further amended statement of claim is dismissed.

(2) Judgment for the defendant.

(3) Costs for the defendant as agreed or, in default of agreement, as assessed. Catchwords: MISFEASANCE IN PUBLIC OFFICE – intentional tort – act or acts of a police officer – investigation of alleged criminal activity – public power – scope of public power – intention to harm – targeted malice – mental element – anterior element of invalidity – first limb of malice – reach of tort to plaintiff – Farah Constructions deference – police power – investigative functions of police – inferences – standard of proof – act of sending a letter – final malicious step – perception of organisation Kenja – cult – claim for damages – psychological injury – other harm – credibility of police witness – trial as to two complainants – further complaints by separate complainant – historical allegations – Bundeena allegation – procure or cause to procure false allegations – knowledge or belief allegations false – indifference to truth – glaring improbability – whether a malicious investigation – disclosure of current investigation material to ODPP – Director of Police Prosecutors Act – whether disclosure obligations met and whether malicious intention – limitation defence – damages – whether harm – causation – general damages – aggravated damages – fourth further amended statement of claim dismissed – costs for the defendant Legislation Cited: Bail Act 1978 (NSW) Bail Act 2013 (NSW) Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1969-1974 (SA) Crown Proceedings Act 1988 (NSW) Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 (NSW) Employees Liability Act 1991 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW) Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 (NSW) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Police Act 1990 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adams v Bracknell Forest Borough Council [2005] 1 AC 76 Akenzua v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2002] EWCA Civ 1470; [2003] 1 WLR 741 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Mercer (2016) ALR 157; [2016] TASFC 2 Amin v Imran Khan & Partners [2011] EWHC 2958 Australian Securities Commission v Marlborough Gold Mines Ltd (1993) 177 CLR 485; [1993] HCA 15 Bailey v Director General, Department of Natural Resources (formerly known as Department of Land and Water Conservation) [2014] NSWSC 1012 Baker-Morrison v State of New South Wales (2009) 74 NSWLR 454; [2009] NSWCA 35 Battista v Cooper [1976] 14 SASR 225 Bergman v Haertsch [2000] NSWSC 528 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; 98 ER 969 Bostik Australia Pty Ltd v Liddiard [2009] NSWCA 167 Bourgoin SA v Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food [1986] QB 716; [1985] 3 All ER 585 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Browne v Dunn (1892) 6 R 67 Calveley v Chief Constable of the Merseyside Police [1989] AC 1228 Carr v Baker [1936] SR (NSW) 301 Caswell v Powell Duffryn Associated Collieries Ltd [1940] AC 152 Cheikho v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No 5) [2016] NSWSC 29 Commonwealth of Australia v Dinnison (1995) 56 FCR 389; [1995] FCA 192 Commonwealth of Australia v Fernando (2012) 200 FCR 1; [2012] FCAFC 18 Commonwealth v Nelson [2001] NSWCA 443 Commonwealth v Smith [2005] NSWCA 478 Cornwall v Rowan [2004] 90 SASR 269; [2004] SASC 384 CRA Ltd v Martignago; Costain Australia Ltd v Martignago (1996) 39 NSWLR 13 Cran v New South Wales [2004] NSWCA 92 De Reus v Gray (2003) 9 VR 432; [2003] VSCA 84 Desai v Keelty (2009) 180 FCR 559; [2009] FCA 1280 Director of Public Prosecutions (Vic) (On behalf of Neil Joseph Smyth) v Zierk (2008) 184 A Crim R 582; [2008] VSC 184 Donmez v Neissa [2012] VSC 73 Dyers v The Queen (2002) 210 CLR 285; [2002] HCA 45 Emanuele v Hedley (1998) 179 FCR 290 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Farrington v Thomson and Bridgland [1959] VR 286 Frizelle v Bauer [2009] NSWCA 239 Garrett v Attorney-General [1997] 2 NZLR 332 George v Rockett (1990) 170 CLR 104; [1990] HCA 26 Gett v Tabet (2009) 254 ALR 504; [2009] NSWCA 76 Glasbrook Bros Ltd v Glamorgan County Council [1925] AC 270 Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 196 CLR 1; [1998] HCA 70 Grimwade v Victoria (1997) 90 A Crim R 526 Henry Walker Eltin Contracting Pty Ltd v Hrstic [2005] NSWCA 253 Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire [1989] AC 53; [1988] 2 All ER 238 Hunter Area Health Service v Marchlewski (2000) 51 NSWLR 268; [2000] NSWCA 294 Hussien v Chong Fook Kam [1970] AC 942 Johnson v The Commonwealth (1927) 27 SR (NSW) 133 Jones v Great Western Railway Co (1930) 144 LT 194 Jones v Swansea City Council [1990] 1 WLR 54 Kuddus v Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary [2002] 2 AC 122 Leerdam v Noori (2009) 227 FLR 210; [2009] NSWCA 90 March v Stramare (1991) 171 CLR 506; [1991] HCA 12 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254; [2000] HCA 61 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 110 ALR 449; [1992] HCA 66 New South Wales v Ibbett (2006) 229 CLR 638; [2006] HCA 57 New South Wales v Ibbett (2006) 229 CLR 638; [2006] HCA 57 Northern Territory v Mengel (1995) 185 CLR 307; [1995] HCA 65 Nyoni v Shire of Kellerberrin (No 6) (2017) 248 FCR 311; [2017] FCAFC 59 O'Malley v Keelty (2005) 148 FCR 170 O'Reilly v Hausler (1987) 6 MVR 344 Obeid v Lockley (2018) 355 ALR; [2018] NSWCA 71 Odhavji Estate v Woodhouse [2003] 3 SCR 263 Pullen v Gutteridge Haskins & Davey Pty Ltd [1993] 1 VR 27 R v Chief Constable of the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, ex parte Central Electricity Generating Board [1982] QB 458 R v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; Ex parte Blackburn [1968] 2 QB 118; [1968] 1 All ER 763 R v Dyers [2000] NSWCCA 335 R v Dytham [1979] QB 722 R v Lipton [2011] NSWCCA 247 R v Spiteri-Ahern (No 11) [2017] NSWSC 1820 Rajski v Bainton [1991] NSWCA 231 Roncarelli v Duplessis (1959) 16 DLR (2nd) 689; [1959] SCR 121 Sanders v Snell (1998) 196 CLR 329; [1998] HCA 64 Seltsam Pty Ltd v McGuiness; James Hardie & Co Pty Ltd v McGuiness (2000) 49 NSWLR 262; [2000] NSWCA 29 Shoesmith v Cessnock Truck Tyre Centre Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 342 State of New South Wales v Corby (2010) 76 NSWLR 439; [2010] NSWCA 27 State of New South Wales v Gillett [2012] NSWCA 83 State of New South Wales v Paige (2002) 60 NSWLR 371; [2002] NSWCA 235 State of New South Wales v Radford (2010) 79 NSWLR 327; [2010] NSWCA 276 State of New South Wales v Riley (2003) 57 NSWLR 496; [2003] NSWCA 208 State of New South Wales v Williamson [2011] NSWCA 183 State of NSW v Tyszyk [2008] NSWCA 107 State Secretary for the Home Department [2006] 2 AC 395 Stevenson v Basham [1922] NZLR 225 Strinic v Singh (2009) 74 NSWLR 419 Three Rivers District Council v Governor and Company of the Bank of England (No 3) [2003] 2 AC 1 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118; [1966] HCA 40 Wilkinson v Downton [1897] 2 QB 547 X (Minors) v Bedfordshire County Council (1995) 2 AC 633; [1995] UKHL 9 XL Petroleum (NSW) Pty ltd v Caltex Oil Pty Ltd (1985) 155 CLR 448 Texts Cited: Aronson, Groves and Weeks, Judicial Review of Administrative Action and Government Liability (6th ed 2017, Lawbook Co) Harvey McGregor QC, McGregor on Damages (19th ed, 2014, Thomas Reuters) Sappideen and Vines, Fleming's The Law of Torts, (10th ed, 2011, Thomas Reuters) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Janice Rita Hamilton (Plaintiff) State of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P J Brereton SC, with A E Maroya and L Fernandez (Plaintiff) P Neil SC with D F Villa SC (Defendant)