Ghanem v State of New South Wales [2024] NSWDC 213

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ghanem v State of New South Wales [2024] NSWDC 213 Hearing dates: 27 May 2024 – 29 May 2024 and 31 May 2024 Date of orders: 7 June 2024 Decision date: 07 June 2024 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Newlinds SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the first plaintiff, together with interest. (2) Judgment for the second plaintiff, together with interest. (3) Direct the parties to bring in short minutes of order giving effect to these reasons. (See paras [130]-[133]). Catchwords: TORTS — Trespass to the person — False imprisonment — Wrongful arrest — Total deprivation of liberty — Statutory authority — s 99 LEPRA — Proper construction of s 99 LEPRA — Timing of formation of relevant state of mind and decision to arrest — State of mind formed by taking into account irrelevant considerations or failing to take into account relevant considerations, or by otherwise misconstruing the terms of s 99 LEPRA — no relevant state of mind formed — State of mind/decision manifestly unreasonable, arbitrary, or irrational — Damages — General damages — Aggravated damages — Exemplary damages — Remedies — Bail Act 2013 — Ability of police to grant bail to a person charged with offence but not arrested Legislation Cited: Bail Act 2013 s 7-11, s 13-14, s 17(3), s 43 Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW) s 99(1)(a)-(b) Cases Cited: AD v State of NSW [2023] NSWCA 115 Clifton v Harris [2012] NSWCA 229 Costa v Public Trustee of NSW [2008] NSWCA 223 Coyle v State of New South Wales [2006] NSWCA 95 Edwards v State of New South Wales [2021] NSWSC 181 Jamal v State of New South Wales [2020] NSWDC 377 Jankovic v Director of Public Prosecutions [2020] NSWCA 31 Lule v State of New South Wales [2018] NSWCA 125 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu [1999] 197 CLR 611 R v Wilson (No.5) [2018] NSWSC 1077 Randall v State of NSW; Dickens v State of NSW; Jensen v State of NSW (unreported, 21 June 2023, DCJ Curtis) Reeves v State of NSW [2024] NSWCA 125 Robinson v State of New South Wales [2018] NSWCA 231; 100 NSWLR 782 Rook v State of NSW (No.3) [2015] NSWDC 154 Ruddock v Taylor [2003] NSWCA 262 Ruddock v Taylor [2005] HCA 48; 222 CLR 612 Spautz v Butterworth & Anor [1996] NSWSC 614; 41 NSWLR 1 State of New South Wales & Anor v Coleman [2000] NSWCA 183 State of New South Wales v Abed [2014] NSWCA 419 State of New South Wales v Abed [2014] NSWCA 419 State of New South Wales v Abed [2014] NSWCA 419 State of New South Wales v Delly [2007] NSWCA 303; (2007) Aust Torts Reports 81-920 State of New South Wales v Smith [2017] NSWCA 194 State of New South Wales v. Riley [2003] NSWCA 208 State of New South Wales v. Riley [2003] NSWCA 208 State of NSW v Randall [2017] NSWCA 88 Ussher v State of NSW [2017] NSWDC 189 Vignoli v Sydney Harbour Casino [1999] NSWSC 1113; (2000) Aust Torts Reports 81-541 Zaravinos v State of New South Wales [2004] NSWCA 320; (2004) 62 NSWLR 58 Zaravinos v State of New South Wales [2004] NSWCA 320; 62 NSWLR 58 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Aya Ghanem (Plaintiff) State of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr E. Anderson (Plaintiffs) Mr N. Newton (Defendant)