Eedra Zey (formerly using the pseudonym Eva Williams) v State of New South Wales (No 2) [2024] NSWDC 289

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Eedra Zey (formerly using the pseudonym Eva Williams) v State of New South Wales (No 2) [2024] NSWDC 289 Hearing dates: 26, 27, 28 and 29 February, 1, 7, 15 and 22 March, 26 April, 17 May and 7 June 2024 Date of orders: 17 July 2024 Decision date: 17 July 2024 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Acting Judge Levy SC Decision: See paragraph [244] for orders Catchwords: TORTS – intentional torts – multiple claims by plaintiff based on actions of police officers in the discharge of their duties responding to provocative antisocial conduct of plaintiff – claim by social activist plaintiff seeking compensatory aggravated and exemplary damages – allegations of trespass to goods (plaintiff's unattended motor vehicle deliberately causing nuisance and obstruction to traffic and towed away on two occasions) – claims of trespass to land, assault, false imprisonment, breach of privacy, misfeasance in public office, and breach of Article 17 of International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (police officers lawfully attended plaintiff's property to speak with her about her motor vehicle repeatedly causing obstructed access to building works at a nearby school) – brief period of trespass to land conceded by defendant when implied licence for police officers to enter plaintiff's land for the lawful purpose of abating a public nuisance was terminated when plaintiff requested police officers to leave her premises DAMAGES – significance of plaintiff's antecedent provocative conduct – conceded brief period of trespass to plaintiff's land by police officers was trifling in nature – application of doctrine de minimis non curat lex – nominal damages assessed at $1.00 COSTS – appropriate order for costs to be determined after hearing from the parties where plaintiff's claims were substantially unsuccessful and only nominal damages awarded Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 and s 98 Courts Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act, 2010 (NSW), s 7 and s 10 Crown Proceedings Act 1988 (NSW), s 5 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 29, s 56 and s 136 International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, Article 17 Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 (NSW) Road Transport General Regulation 2013 (NSW), cl 39 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 23.1, r 23.2 and r 24.2. Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 199; [2001] HCA 63 Barton v Armstrong [1969] 2 NSWR 451 Bobolas v Waverley Council [2016] NSWCA 139 Bradley v The Commonwealth (1973) 128 CLR 557; [1973] HCA 34 Chow Hung Ching v R (1948) 77 CLR 449 Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427; [1994] HCA 15 Dietrich v R (1972) 177 CLR 292; [1972] HCA 57 Eedra Zey (formerly using the litigation pseudonym Eva Williams) v State of New South Wales [2024] NSWDC 135 Glen v Sullivan [2015] NSWCA 191 JH Rayner (Mincing Lane) Ltd v Department of Trade and Industry [1990] 2 A.C. 418 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Hitchcock (2007) 70 NSWLR 484; [2007] NSWCA 364 Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen (1982) 153 CLR 168 Kostov v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No 1) [2018] NSWSC 1822 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534; [1990] HCA 59 Mahenthirasa v State Rail Authority of NSW (No 2) (2008) 72 NSWLR 73; [2008] NSWCA 201 McHale v Watson (1964) 111 CLR 384 Minister of State for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Teoh (1995) 183 CLR 273; [1995] HCA 20 National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1970] HCA 51; (1970) 122 CLR 13 Nobarani v Mariconte (2018) 265 CLR 236; [2018] HCA 36 Northern Territory v Mengel (1995) 185 CLR 307 Nyoni v Shire of Kellerberrin (2017) 248 FCR 311; [2017] FCAFC 59 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72; [1998] HCA 11 Plenty v Dillon (1991) 171 CLR 635; [1991] HCA 5 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164; [1965] HCA 34 Rajski v Scitec Corporation Pty Ltd (New South Wales Court of Appeal, 16 June 1986, unreported) Romani v State of New South Wales [2023] NSWSC 49 Roy v O'Neill (2020) 272 CLR 291; [2020] HCA 45 Pargiter v Alexander (1995) 5 Tas R 158; [1995] TASSC 62 Sahade v Bischoff [2015] NSWCA 418 Simsek v Macphee (1982) 148 CLR 636; [1982] HCA 7 Smethurst v Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police [2020] HCA 14 Stanley v Powell [1891] 1 QB 86 State of New South Wales v Ibbett (2006) 229 CLR 638; [2006] HCA 57 State of New South Wales v McMaster [2015] NSWCA 228 Sze Tu v Lowe (No 2) [2015] NSWCA 91 TCN Channel Nine Pty Limited v Anning (2002) 54 NSWLR 333 Thomas v National Union of Mineworkers [1986] Ch 20 Venning v Chin (1974) 10 SASR 299 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158; [1960] HCA 58 Williams v The Queen (1978) 140 CLR 591; [1978] HCA 49 Texts Cited: Balkin and Davis, Law of Torts, 3rd Ed Fleming, Law of Torts, 10th Ed Category: Principal judgment Parties: Eedra Zey (formerly using the pseudonym Eva Williams) (Plaintiff) State of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff appearing in person Mr N Newton (Defendant) Mr M Burns, solicitor (Intervenor seeking leave to set aside a subpoena)