Polsen v Harrison (No 5) [2021] NSWSC 244

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Polsen v Harrison (No 5) [2021] NSWSC 244 Hearing dates: 2 March 2021 Date of orders: 2 March 2021 Decision date: 16 March 2021 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Lonergan J Decision: (1) Application dismissed. (2) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs of the application. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – where plaintiff made application that trial judge in medical negligence proceedings should disqualify self because of apprehended bias – where plaintiff argued that the judge's apprehended bias is based on the fact that the judge's tipstaff attended a single directions hearing on behalf of defendant 2 years ago – application refused COURT AND JUDGES – apprehended bias – application for recusal – application refused Cases Cited: Bahonko v Moorfields Community and Others (2012) 34 VR 409; [2012] VSCA 89 British American Tobacco Australia Services Ltd v Laurie (2011) 242 CLR 283; [2011] HCA 2 CNY 17 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2019) ALJR 140; [2019] HCA 50 Dovade Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation [1999] NSWCA 113 Ebner v The Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 Farkas v Thomason [2020] WASC 67 Gaynor v Local Court of NSW & Ors [2019] NSWSC 516 Hurley v McDonald's Australia Ltd [2000] FCA 961 Kostov v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (No 2) [2020] NSWCA 94 Michael Wilson & Partners Limited v Robert Colin Nicholls & Ors (2011) 244 CLR 427; [2011] HCA 48 Polsen v Harrison [2021] NSWCA 23 Reid v Commercial Club (Albury) Limited [2014] NSWCA 98 S & M Motor Repairs Pty Ltd v Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd (1988) 12 NSWLR 358; Vakuata v Kelly (1989) 167 CLR 568; [1989] HCA 44 Webb and Hay v R (1994) 181 CLR 41; [1994] HCA 30 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Katrina Marie Polsen (Plaintiff) Dr Harrison (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A J Bartley SC / JA Hillier (Plaintiff) M Windsor SC / M Hutchings (Defendant)