Watt v Redman [2024] NSWSC 638

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Watt v Redman [2024] NSWSC 638 Hearing dates: 10 May 2024 Date of orders: 31 May 2024 Decision date: 31 May 2024 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Garling J Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff against the defendant in the sum of $819,000. (2) Defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings. (3) Liberty to apply. Catchwords: TORTS – Trespass to the person – Battery – Persistent Sexual Assault by brother – Damages – Assessment of damages – No point of principle. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2005 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Gray v Motor Accident Commission [1998] HCA 70; (1998) 196 CLR 1 Mirosevich v Laughlan [2022] NSWSC 1103 Searle v The Commonwealth of Australia [2019] NSWCA 127 Texts Cited: Not Applicable Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lisa Maria Watt (P) Gregory Roy Redman (D) Representation: Counsel: C O'Neill (P)

Solicitors: Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers (P) No Appearance (D) File Number(s): 2023/00142099 Publication restriction: Not Applicable

JUDGMENT 1. Ms Lisa Maria Watts (the plaintiff) brings proceedings seeking damages for historical child sexual assault from the defendant. The defendant, Gregory Roy Redman, is the plaintiff's brother. 2. The proceedings were initially commenced by a Statement of Claim filed on 3 May 2023. Proceedings are brought against the defendant on the basis that while the plaintiff was a child, he too was living in the family home and, for a period of approximately ten years from end of 1974 or early 1975 to 1985, he sexually abused the plaintiff.