Lewicki v Hunter New England Local Health District [2020] NSWSC 1037

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Lewicki v Hunter New England Local Health District [2020] NSWSC 1037 Hearing dates: 26 April and 17 May 2019 Date of orders: 10 August 2020 Decision date: 10 August 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Walton J Decision: The plaintiff shall bring in short minutes of order reflecting this judgment within 7 days of its publication. Catchwords: LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – torts – medical negligence – extension of time – when the cause of action was discoverable by the plaintiff – whether just and reasonable to extend the 12 year long-stop limitation period – absence of prejudice – whether the plaintiff ought to have known the requisite facts of discoverability – knowledge of causation could only be attained through expert medical opinion CIVIL PROCEDURE – time – extension of time – orders LEGAL PROFESSIONAL – privilege – waiver Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attorney-General for the Northern Territory v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475; [1986] HCA 80 Baker-Morrison v State of New South Wales [2009] NSWCA 35 Brisbane Sooth Regional Health Authority (1996) 186 CLR 54 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541 Commonwealth of Australia v Smith [2005] NSWCA 478 Commonwealth v Nelson [2001] NSWCA 443 Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited v Tallevine Pty Ltd (as trustee for the Thornleigh Trading Trust) [2018] NSWSC 136 Itek Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott (2011) 54 NSWLR 207; [2001] NSWCA 442 Kay v Sydney Airport Corp Ltd [2014] NSWSC 744 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1; [1999] HCA 66 Pomare v Hogan (No 3) [2019] NSWSC 497 Texts Cited: New South Wales, Parliamentary Debates, Legislative Council, 4 June 1990, 4994-4997 (E P Pickering) Review of the Law of Negligence (Final Report, September 2002) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Shaun Lewicki (Plaintiff) Hunter New England Local Health District (First Defendant) Alexander Grant (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P Darcy-King (Plaintiff) J M Sandford (Defendants)