Magann v The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Parramatta [2020] NSWCA 167

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Magann v The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Parramatta [2020] NSWCA 167 Hearing dates: 27 July 2020 Date of orders: 4 August 2020 Decision date: 04 August 2020 Before: Bell P at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [75]; Payne JA at [76] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: APPEAL – procedure to be followed when primary findings of fact challenged – obligation to comply with UCPR r 51.36(2) in relation to factual challenges – need for precise and accurate references to evidentiary record. APPEAL – standard of appellate review in relation to finding that a contract is unjust or not unjust within the meaning of the Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW). CONTRACTS – deed of settlement and release relating to claims of alleged historical child sex abuse – where appellant signed deed releasing respondents from any liability in respect of claims – whether litigation needed to be on foot for deed of release to be effective – whether primary judge erred in determination of separate question that the deed extinguished liability of the respondents. CONTRACTS – unjust contracts – Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW) – whether primary judge erred in not holding that a deed of settlement relating to claims of alleged historic child sex abuse was unjust. EQUITY – unconscionable conduct – special disability or disadvantage – whether primary judge erred in not holding that respondents had taken advantage of a special disadvantage, namely post-traumatic stress disorder. Legislation Cited: Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) s 6A Limitation Act 1974 (Tas) s 5B Limitation Act 1981 (NT) s 5A Limitation Act 1985 (ACT) s 21C Limitation Amendment (Child Abuse) Act 2016 (NSW) Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA) s 3A Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vic) ss 27O–27R Limitation Act 2005 (WA) s 6A Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld) s 11A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 51.36(2) Cases Cited: Al Maha Pty Ltd v Coplin [2017] NSWCA 318 Antonovic v Volker (1986) 7 NSWLR 151 Atkins Freight Services Pty Ltd v Fair Work Ombudsman [2017] FCA 1134 Best v Rosamond [2020] NSWCA 90 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Canty v PaperlinX Australia Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 309 Eijkman v Magann; McGloin v Magann; The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Parramatta v Magann [2005] NSWCA 358 Hamod v State of New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 375 Lauvan Pty Limited v Bega (2018) 330 FLR 1; [2018] NSWSC 154 Magann v The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Parramatta [2018] NSWSC 1551 Moubarak by his tutor Coorey v Holt (2019) 100 NSWLR 218; [2019] NSWCA 102 Namrood v Ebedeh-Ahvazi [2017] NSWCA 310 Nemeth v Australian Litigation Funders Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 198 Perpetual Trustee Company Limited v Albert and Rose Khoshaba [2006] NSWCA 41 Provident Capital Ltd v Papa (2013) 84 NSWLR 231; [2013] NSWCA 36 South Western Sydney Local Health District v Gould (2018) 97 NSWLR 513; [2018] NSWCA 69 Spina v Permanent Custodians Limited [2009] NSWCA 206; (2009) 14 BPR 26,923 Tillett v Varnell Holdings Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 1040 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531; [1979] HCA 9 West v AGC (Advances) Ltd (1986) 5 NSWLR 610 Texts Cited: NSW Government, "Setting aside settlement agreements for past child abuse claims" (Discussion Paper) [4.15] Category: Principal judgment Parties: Darren Peter Magann (Appellant) The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Parramatta (Respondents) Representation: Counsel: T Boyd (Appellant) L V Gyles SC, A Campbell (Respondents)