Peters v Trustees of the Marist Brothers [2023] NSWSC 475

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Peters v Trustees of the Marist Brothers [2023] NSWSC 475 Hearing dates: 10 March 2023 Date of orders: 5 May 2023 Decision date: 05 May 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Chen J Decision: (1) Order the defendant's notice of motion, filed 25 November 2022, be dismissed. (2) Order the defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of, and incidental to, the defendant's notice of motion filed 25 November 2022. (3) Direct the parties, on or before 12 May 2023, 5 pm, take steps to have the matter listed for directions and case management in the Institutional Abuse List. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – application for permanent stay of proceedings – historical child sexual abuse – alleged perpetrator deceased in 2022 – whether the defendant undertook all reasonable enquiries prior to alleged perpetrator's death – whether proceedings would be oppressive or bring administration of justice into disrepute Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Limitation Amendment (Child Abuse) Act 2016 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW (2006) 226 CLR 256; [2006] HCA 27 Connellan v Murphy [2017] VSCA 116 Container Terminals Australia Ltd v Huseyin [2008] NSWCA 320 Gorman v McKnight (2020) 19 ASTLR 181; [2020] NSWCA 20 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Moubarak by his Tutor Coorey v Holt (2019) 100 NSWLR 218; [2019] NSWCA 102 Patsantzopoulos by his tutor Naumov v Burrows [2023] NSWCA 79 Prince Alfred College Inc v ADC (2016) 258 CLR 134; [2016] HCA 37 State of New South Wales v Plaintiff A [2012] NSWCA 248 The Council of Trinity Grammar School v Anderson (2019) 101 NSWLR 762; [2019] NSWCA 292 The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Lismore v GLJ [2022] NSWCA 78 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 223 CLR 422; [2005] HCA 62 Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378; [1993] HCA 77 Williams v Spautz (1992) 174 CLR 509; [1992] HCA 34 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mark Peters (a pseudonym) (plaintiff) Trustees of the Marist Brothers (defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr S E McCarthy (plaintiff) Mr N Polin SC (defendant)