Stines v The GEO Group Australia Pty Limited [2021] NSWDC 550

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Stines v The GEO Group Australia Pty Limited [2021] NSWDC 550 Hearing dates: 16 September 2021 Date of orders: 15 October 2021 Decision date: 15 October 2021 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Coleman SC DCJ Decision: In relation to the Motion filed by the first defendant on 2 July 2021 (2016/365887‑003), I make orders as follows: 1. The proceedings are dismissed as against the first defendant. 2. I order that the plaintiff pay the first defendant's costs of the proceedings. In relation to the Motion filed by the plaintiff on 15 September 2021 (2016/365887‑004), I make an order as follows: 1. I direct that the balance of the proceedings, as against the second defendant, be transferred to the inactive list. Catchwords: TORTS – Intentional Torts – Injury to Offender in Custody – Recovery of Personal Injury Damages – No Award of Damages where Permanent Impairment is Less than 15% CIVIL PROCEDURE – Summary Dismissal – Defence Application for Dismissal – Whether the Claim has any Reasonable Prospects of Success – Whether Exemplary Damages Constitute Personal Injury Damages – Whether the Plaintiff can Seek a Further Assessment of his Impairment – Whether the Proceedings Should be Dismissed for Want of Due Despatch Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) ss 3, 21, 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, 26D(4), 26X Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) s 18A Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) ss 314, 322, 322A, 322A(1), 322A(3), 322A(4), 325, 326, 327, 327(1), 327(3), 327(3)(b), 327(4), 329, 329(1), 329(1A), 329(1)(b) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 12.7, 12.7(1), 13.4 Cases Cited: Adriaansen v Dungog & District Retirement Living Ltd [2016] NSW WCCPD 36 Borgese v Carter & Blumer Pty Ltd t/as Carter & Blumer [2016] NSWSC 1252 Collier v State of New South Wales (No 2) [2014] NSWSC 1359 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 Simmons v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2014] NSWCA 405 State of New South Wales v Corby [2010] NSWCA 27; (2010) 76 NSWLR 439 State of NSW v Radford [2010] NSWCA 276; (2010) 79 NSWLR 327 State of New South Wales v Williams [2014] 242 A Crim R 22; [2014] NSWCA 177 Stines v The GEO Group Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 375 Texts Cited: Courts Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (NSW) Courts Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (NSW), Second Reading Speech, New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 10 June 2010 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Robert Stines (Plaintiff) The GEO Group Pty Limited (First Defendant) Simon Waterfall (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr G Schipp (Plaintiff) Mr J Entwisle (First Defendant)