Madden v The State of New South Wales [2022] NSWDC 647

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Madden v The State of New South Wales [2022] NSWDC 647 Hearing dates: 17 – 21, 24 – 25 October, 3, 7 - 9 November Date of orders: 16 December 2022 Decision date: 16 December 2022 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Fitzsimmons SC DCJ Decision: (1) Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $320,000. (2) The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs on the ordinary basis unless otherwise ordered. (3) The exhibits may be returned. (4) Liberty to apply on 7 days notice if further orders are required. Catchwords: TORTS – power to stop, search and detain - trespass to the person – false imprisonment – wrongful arrest – reasonable grounds to suspect – genuine belief of arresting officer – Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), ss 21, 99 TORTS – applicability of Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) to wrongful arrest and false imprisonment claims – meaning of injury s 3B(1)(a) – applicability of s 11 in determining definition of injury in s 3B(1)(a) – applicability of s 43A - whether police exercising statutory powers – powers exercised unlawfully TORTS – malicious prosecution – laying of charge – reasonable and probable cause – whether malice established – whether belief in guilt of person charged EVIDENCE – standard of proof – civil proceedings – gravity of matters alleged DAMAGES – aggravated and exemplary damages Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) pt 2, ss 3B(1)(a), 11, 43A, Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 58, 527C Criminal Procedure Regulation 2017 (NSW) Reg 25 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 140 Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW) ss 21, 27(1) 99, 202 Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) ss 337(1), 338(1) Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW) s 11C Cases Cited: A v State of New South Wales (2007) 230 CLR 500 at 502 Attalla v State of NSW [2018] NSWDC 190 Beckett v State of New South Wales [2013] HCA 17; (2013) 248 CLR 432 Beckett v State of New South Wales [2015] NSWSC 1017 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Coleman v Power and others (2004) 220 CLR 1; [2004] HCA 39 Collins v Wilcock [1984] 1 WLR 1172 Croucher v Cachia [2016] NSWCA 132 Dowse v State of New South Wales [2012] NSWCA 337 Edwards v State of New South Wales (2021) NSWSC 181 Fred Saad and Ors v State of New South Wales [2016] NSWSC 1247 George v Rockett (1991) 70 CLR 104 at [115] Houda v NSW [2005] NSWSC 1053 Hrdavec v State of New South Wales [2022] NSWCA 52; (2021) NSWSC 560 Hussien v Chong Fook Kam [1970] AC 942 at 948 Hyder v Commonwealth of Australia [2012] NSWCA 336 Jankovic v Director of Public Prosecutions [2020] NSWCA 31 MBP (SA) Pty Limited v Gogic (1991) 171 CLR 57 McLiney v Minister [1911] VLR 347 at 351 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Ptd Ltd (1992) 67 ALJR 170; 110 ALR 449; [1992] HCA 66 New South Wales v Abed (2014) 246 A Crim Report 549 New South Wales v Williamson [2012] HCA 57; (2012) 248 CLR 417 Nguyen v Elliott (unreported 6 February 1995) O'Hara v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary [1997] AC 286 R v Rondo [2001] NSWCCA 540 Ruddock v Taylor [2003] NSWCA 262 Smith v Corrective Services Commission (NSW) [1980] HCA 49; (1980) 147 CLR 134 (at 139) State of New South Wales v Corbett [2007] HCA 32; (2007) 230 CLR 606 State of New South Wales v Ibbett [2005] NSWCA 445 State of New South Wales v Le [2017] NSWCA 290 Trobridge v Hardy [1955] HCA 68; 94 CLR 147 Whitbread v Rail Corporation New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 130 White v Johnson [2015] NSWCA 18; 87 NSWLR 779 Williams v The Queen [1986] HCA 88; (1986) 161 CLR 278 Zaravinos v State of NSW (2004) 62 NSWLR 58 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ebonie Madden (Plaintiff) The State of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Canceri and Mr S Boland (Plaintiff) Mr R Coffey (Defendant)