ABC v Parsonage; ABC v Commissioner of Corrective Services [2022] NSWSC 994

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: ABC v Parsonage; ABC v Commissioner of Corrective Services [2022] NSWSC 994 Hearing dates: 22 July 2022 Date of orders: 29 July 2022 Decision date: 29 July 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Davies J Decision: 1. In proceedings 2021/279947 I make the following orders: (a) Order that the plaintiff be referred to as ABC. (b) Direct the Registrar to amend the title of the proceedings to read ABC v Parsonage. (c) Order that the plaintiff's husband be referred to as XYZ. (d) A non-publication order in respect of Exhibit MJC-1 and Exhibit A, except in respect of the parties to the proceedings, pursuant to s 7 of the Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) on the ground in s 8(1)(a) of that Act. (e) Order that the sixth and tenth defendants be removed as parties to the proceedings pursuant to r 6.29 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW). (f) Dismiss the proceedings against the remaining defendants pursuant to r 13.4 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW). (g) Order the plaintiff to pay the costs of the defendants. 2. In proceedings 2021/289841 I make the following orders: (a) Order that the plaintiff be referred to as ABC. (b) Direct the Registrar to amend the title of the proceedings to read ABC v Commissioner of Corrective Services. (c) Order that the plaintiff's husband be referred to as XYZ. (d) Dismiss the proceedings pursuant to r 13.4 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW). (e) Order the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEEDINGS – summary disposal – dismissal of proceedings – statement of claim naming 12 defendants – unrepresented plaintiff seeking compensatory and aggravated damages – claim arising out of care proceedings under Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 – defendants were police officer, caseworkers, solicitors, and Magistrate who heard care proceedings – plaintiff claiming defamation in documents and affidavits prepared for care proceedings – defence of absolute privilege available – where plaintiff cannot make claim on behalf of her husband for defamation – witness immunity – advocates' immunity – judicial immunity –whether plaintiff raising tort of misfeasance of public office in relation to police officer named as defendant – no harm caused to plaintiff – no reasonable cause of action disclosed – abuse of process – orders pursuant to r 13.4 UCPR CIVIL PROCEDURE – parties – misjoinder – no relief sought against two defendants named in statement of claim – order removing parties – rule 6.29 UCPR CIVIL PROCEEDINGS – summary disposal – claim for breach of privacy of plaintiff's husband – tort of privacy – whether such tort recognised in Australian law – standing of plaintiff to bring proceedings – no reasonable cause of action disclosed Legislation Cited: Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) ss 45, 61, 105 Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) ss 7, 8 Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW) Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) ss 4, 27 Judicial Officers Act 1986 (NSW) ss 44A, 44C Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 (NSW) ss 8, 9B Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 4.10, 6.29, 13.4, 14.28 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 199; [2001] HCA 63 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited v Chowdhury [2012] NSWSC 592 Bruce v Odhams Press Ltd [1936] 1 KB 697 Burton v Babb [2020] NSWCA 331 Cabassi v Vila (1940) 64 CLR 130; [1940] HCA 41 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid (2005) 223 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 12 Commonwealth of Australia v Griffiths (2007) 70 NSWLR 268; [2007] NSWCA 270 Donaldson v Commonwealth of Australia [2011] NSWSC 423 Donaldson v State of New South Wales [2019] NSWCA 109 Ea v Diaconu [2020] NSWCA 127 Fingleton v R (2005) 227 CLR 166; [2005] HCA 34 Kostov v Nationwide New Pty Ltd (No 1) [2018] NSWSC 1822 Leerdam v Noori [2009] NSWCA 90; (2009) 255 ALR 553; 227 FLR 210 Northern Territory of Australia v Mengel (1995) 185 CLR 307; [1995] HCA 65 Quail v Gibson [2021] FCA 1115 Robinson v State of New South Wales [2021] NSWSC 1571 Smethurst v Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police [2020] HCA 502; (2020) 94 ALJR 502 Stankovic v State of NSW [2016] NSWSC 18 Stankovic v State of New South Wales [2016] NSWCA 168 Ugur v Attorney General for New South Wales [2019] NSWCA 86 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: ABC v Parsonage (2021/279947) ABC (Plaintiff) Dorothea Parsonage (First Defendant) Kimberley Sawyer (Second Defendant) Alessia Salvatore (Third Defendant) Claire Stewart (Fourth Defendant) Kathryn Renshall (Fifth Defendant) Clare Colquhoun (Sixth Defendant) Denise Kati (Seventh Defendant) Jennifer Botterill (Eighth Defendant) Stacy Cogdran (Ninth Defendant) Melissa O'Malley (Tenth Defendant) Sue Duncombe (Eleventh Defendant) Damien Paul Bateman (Twefth Defendant)