State of New South Wales v Torronen [2023] NSWCA 319

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: State of New South Wales v Torronen [2023] NSWCA 319 Hearing dates: 6 October 2023 Decision date: 15 December 2023 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; White JA at [98]; Griffiths AJA at [107] Decision: Summons seeking leave to appeal filed 15 May 2023 dismissed with costs. Catchwords: APPEALS – leave to appeal – claim for damages for sexual assault by police officers when plaintiff being apprehended – damages less than $100,000 – five day trial – no denial of procedural fairness – no error of principle or public importance – whether errors in fact-finding process – if appeal allowed, necessity for lengthy retrial – whether appropriate to grant leave to appeal Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 3B District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 127 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140 Felons (Civil Proceedings) Act 1981 (NSW) Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), ss 99, 201 Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 (NSW), Pt 4 Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), s 18A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 51.29 Cases Cited: Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Gilmore Finance Pty Ltd v Aesthete Pty Ltd [2022] NSWCA 279 Norfeld Pty Ltd v Jones (t/as Watermark Patent and Trademark Attorneys) [2014] NSWCA 408 State of New South Wales v Randall [2017] NSWCA 88 Zhang v Hardas (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 432 Category: Principal judgment Parties: State of New South Wales (Applicant) Drew Torronen (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R J Cheney SC and S W W Sykes (Applicant) P E Blacket SC and C Goodhand (Respondent) Solicitors: Makinson d'Apice Lawyers (Applicant) O'Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors (Respondent) File Number(s): 2023/74333 Publication restriction: Nil Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: District Court of New South Wales Jurisdiction: Civil Date of Decision: 06 February 2023 Before: Williams SC DCJ File Number(s): 2021/15694