O’Callaghan v Trustees of the Marist Brothers [2023] NSWSC 432

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: O'Callaghan v Trustees of the Marist Brothers [2023] NSWSC 432 Hearing dates: 24 April 2023 Date of orders: 27 April 2023 Decision date: 27 April 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Elkaim AJ Decision: (1) The notice of motion filed by the defendant on 15 September 2022 is dismissed. (2) Defendant to pay the plaintiff's cost of the notice of motion filed on 15 September 2022. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – permanent stay – action for damages for historical sexual assault – allegation of sexual abuse by a school principal – where the alleged abuser has passed away – where evidence that corroborates allegation is deficient – whether the lack of evidence and inability to put allegation to alleged abuser makes proceeding manifestly unfair – significance of removal of limitation period Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 67 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 13.4, 14.3 Cases Cited: Connellan v Murphy [2017] VSCA 116 Grant v Bird [2021] VSC 380 GMB v Unitingcare West [2022] WASCA 92 Martin v Malouf [2023] NSWSC 71 Moubarak by his tutor Coorey v Holt [2019] NSWCA 102 R v Kelly (Edward) [2000] 1 QB 198 RC v The Salvation Army (Western Australia) Property Trust [2023] WASCA 29 Salvation Army v Rundle [2008] NSWCA 347 Smith v The Council of Trinity Grammar School [2022] NSWCA 93 Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Dioceses of Lismore v GLJ [2022] NSWCA 78 Yu v Cao [2015] NSWCA 276 Patsantzopoulos by his tutor Naumov v Burrows [2023] NSWCA 79 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Brian Noel O'Callaghan (Plaintiff) Trustees of the Marist Brothers (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr Campbell SC/ Mr Masur (Plaintiff) Mr Villa SC (Defendant)