Young v Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals New South Wales [2020] NSWCA 360

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Young v Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals New South Wales [2020] NSWCA 360 Hearing dates: 13 November 2020 Decision date: 24 December 2020 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Emmett AJA at [56]; Preston CJ of LEC at [89] Decision: 1. Set aside order 1 made on 17 December 2019, and in lieu thereof, dismiss the application for summary dismissal of Mr Young's cause of action for malicious prosecution. 2. Otherwise dismiss the amended summons filed on 30 June 2020 in this Court. 3. No order as to the costs of the proceedings in this Court, with the intention that the parties bear their own costs. 4. Note that the costs of the application for summary dismissal in the District Court are reserved in the District Court for the later consideration of that Court. Catchwords: ANIMALS — prevention of cruelty to animals — private prosecution under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act — guilty verdict — charges subsequently dismissed under Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW), s 32 TORTS — malicious prosecution — malicious criminal proceedings — elements of tort — application for summary dismissal — whether s 32 dismissal constitutes a termination of proceedings in favour of a plaintiff Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), Pt 6 Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW), ss 18, 19, 28 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 9, 10A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 215 District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 127 Local Court Act 2007 (NSW), ss 39, 40 Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW), Pt 3, s 32 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (NSW), ss 5, 6, 8 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), Pt 51 Cases Cited: A v State of New South Wales (2007) 230 CLR 500; [2007] HCA 10 Beckett v State of New South Wales (2013) 248 CLR 432; [2013] HCA 17 Chief Executive Officer of Customs v Tony Longo Pty Ltd (2001) 52 NSWLR 458; [2001] NSWCA 147 Crawford Adjusters (Cayman) Ltd v Sagicor General Insurance (Cayman) Ltd [2014] AC 366; [2013] UKPC 17 CSR Ltd v Eddy (2005) 226 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 64 Fleming v White [1981] 2 NSWLR 719 Jones v Givin (1713) Gilb Cas 185; 93 ER 300 Morgan v District Court of New South Wales (2017) 94 NSWLR 463; [2017] NSWCA 105 Quirk v State of New South Wales [2011] NSWSC 341 R v CB; MP v R [2011] NSWCCA 264; 291 FLR 113 Savile v Roberts (1698) 1 Ld Raym 374 State of New South Wales v Quirk [2012] NSWCA 216 Torbey Investments Corporated Pty Ltd v Ferrara [2017] NSWCA 9 Wayne Quirk v The State of New South Wales [2011] NSWSC 341 Wende v Howarth (No 2) (2015) 91 NSWLR 588; [2015] NSWCA 416 Wollongong City Council v Papadopoulos [2019] NSWCA 178 Young v Cooke [2013] NSWCA 79 Young v Cooke [2016] FCA 1215 Young v Cooke [2016] NSWSC 1388 Young v Cooke [2016] NSWSC 408 Young v Cooke [2017] FCA 26 Young v Cooke [2017] NSWCA 33 Young v Cooke [2018] NSWSC 588 Young v Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals New South Wales t/as RSPCA [2020] NSWSC 1001 Texts Cited: J Goudkamp and D Nolan, Winfield and Jolowicz on Tort (Sweet & Maxwell, 20th ed, 2020) W Holdsworth, A History of English Law (Sweet & Maxwell, 2nd ed, 1937) vol viii Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gary Young (Applicant) Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals New South Wales (First Respondent) Jean Sprague (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Applicant in person S Chrysanthou SC with N Olson (First and Second Respondents)