Munro v Wheeler [2024] NSWDC 23

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Munro v Wheeler [2024] NSWDC 23 Hearing dates: 15 February 2024 Date of orders: 15 February 2024 Decision date: 15 February 2024 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: Pursuant to UCPR r 31.19, refuse leave to the Plaintiffs to tender or otherwise rely upon the medical report of Dr Fukui filed 8 February 2024. Catchwords: EXPERT EVIDENCE – Plaintiffs in defamation proceedings serve a medico-legal report 28 days before the hearing without first having obtained leave for service of expert reports under UCPR r 31.19 – whether UCPR r 31.28(1)(c) permits service without such leave as long as the report is served 28 days beforehand – whether failure to comply with UCPR r 31.19 is a mere irregularity – whether failure to seek leave "promptly" has been satisfactorily explained – prejudice to defendants – application for leave refused Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 1.12, 15.12, 15.14, 31.1, 31.19, 31.28 Cases Cited: ● P1 v Trustees of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; ● P2 v Trustees of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; ● P3 v Trustees of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; ● P4 v Trustees [2015] NSWSC 698 3 Rivers Estate Pty Ltd v Consult Survey GRA Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 1217 Addison v BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1433 Cerutti v Crestside Pty Ltd [2014] QCA 33 Chapman v Chapman [2007] NSWSC 1109 Clough v Mirror Newspapers Pty Ltd (Supreme Court (NSW), Clarke J, 28 November 1983, unrep) Gershowitz v Kaye [2021] NSWDC 128 Hrdavec v State of New South Wales [2018] NSWSC 1081 Lardelli v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (Supreme Court (NSW), Levine J, 17 September 1993, unrep) Shellharbour City Council v Minister for Planning [2011] NSWCA 195 Tim Barr Pty Ltd v Narui Gold Coast Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 506 Yacoub v Pilkington (Australia) Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 290 Texts Cited: Richard Parkes KC etc, Gatley on Libel and Slander (13th ed, 2022, Sweet & Maxwell) at [34,073] P Taylor, Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure New South Wales, LexisNexis at p. 7830 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Ainslee Kate Munro (1st Plaintiff) Lauren Alicia Marhant (2nd Plaintiff) Shannan Kathleen-Jean Wheeler (1st Defendant) Anne-Marie Francis Curry (2nd Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Edwards (solicitor for the Plaintiffs) T O'Callaghan (solicitor for the 2nd Defendant)