O’Meara v Adams (No 2) [2021] NSWSC 1167

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: O'Meara v Adams (No 2) [2021] NSWSC 1167 Hearing dates: 4 November 2020 Date of orders: 15 September 2021 Decision date: 15 September 2021 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: The appeal is dismissed Catchwords: APPEALS – From Local Court – Appeal as of right on questions of law – Appeal by leave on mixed question of fact and law – Leave not granted – Procedural fairness – Apprehended bias – No basis for apprehended bias – Erroneous agreement on applicable law between parties does not bind decision-maker when decision-maker's view is drawn to parties – Magistrate acted appropriately in discharge of duty – No error DAMAGES – Inclusion of GST in damages for claim in conversion – No error Legislation Cited: Local Court Act 2007 (NSW) ss 39, 40 Australian Consumer Law s 18 Cases Cited: Attorney-General (NSW) v X (2000) 49 NSWLR 653; [2000] NSWCA 199 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Limited (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Bennett v Goodwin [2005] NSWSC 930 BP Refinery (Western Port) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 Concrete Pty Ltd v Parramatta Design and Developments Pty Ltd (2006) 229 CLR 577; [2006] HCA 55 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 Friend v Brooker (2009) 239 CLR 129; [2009] HCA 21 Gaba Formwork Contractors Pty Ltd v Turner Corporation Limited (1993) 32 NSWLR 175 Grant v YYH Holdings [2012] NSWCA 360 Ireland v WG Riverview Pty Ltd (2019) 101 NSWLR 658; [2019] NSWCA 307 Life Insurance Co of Australia Limited v Phillips (1925) 36 CLR 60 O'Meara v Adams [2020] NSWSC 975 Oakley v Lyster [1931] 1 KB 148 Pantorno v The Queen (1989) 166 CLR 466 Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208; 3 DDCR [9] Sinclair v Haines [2000] NSWSC 642 Texts Cited: John G Fleming, The Law of Torts (Law Book Company, 9th ed, 1988) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew Patrick O'Meara (Plaintiff) Jane Adams (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Matthew Patrick O'Meara (In person) Mr J. Baird (Defendant)