Werner v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1727

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Werner v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1727 Hearing dates: 6-7 December 2022 Date of orders: 15 December 2022 Decision date: 15 December 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Schmidt AJ Decision: I order that the leave Mr Werner seeks is refused and his motion dismissed. Catchwords: Limitation of Actions — Voyager/Melbourne collision — where plaintiff brought proceedings over 50 years after expiry of applicable time limit — whether application satisfies requirements of s 60I Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) — whether application made within 3 years of time when plaintiff ought to have become aware of specified matters — whether discretion under s 60G may be exercised that requiring conclusion that it is just and reasonable to extend limitation period — where causation in relation to injuries and damages are in issue — where reliability of plaintiff's evidence is in issue — leave refused. Legislation Cited: Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), ss 14, 60G, 60I, Sch 5, Pt 1, cl 4 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1 Cases Cited: Blunden v Commonwealth (2003) 218 CLR 330; [2003] HCA 73 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541; [1996] HCA 25 Commonwealth of Australia v Smith [2005] NSWCA 478 Commonwealth of Australia v Smith [2007] NSWCA 168 Commonwealth v Shaw (2006) 66 NSWLR 325; [2006] NSWCA 209 Dedousis v Water Board (1994) 181 CLR 171; [1994] HCA 57 Drayton Coal Board Pty Ltd v Drain (Court of Appeal (NSW), 22 August 1995, unrep) Jones v New South Wales [2020] NSWSC 830 Waldron v Joondalup Hospital Pty Ltd (2018) 98 NSWLR 552; [2018] NSWCA182 Winston v Commonwealth [2021] NSWSC 62 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Mr Werner (Plaintiff) Commonwealth of Australia (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr A G Melick AO SC (Plaintiff) Mr C Thomson (Plaintiff) Mr P Knowles SC (Defendant) Mr T Buterin (Defendant)