Hartnett v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes (No 7) [2025] NSWSC 128

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hartnett v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes (No 7) [2025] NSWSC 128 Hearing dates: 5-9, 12-16, 19-20, 22-23 February 2024, 10 December 2024 Date of orders: 28 February 2025 Decision date: 28 February 2025 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: 1. Judgment for the first defendant against the plaintiff. 2. The plaintiff to pay the first defendant's costs. 3. Judgment for the second defendant against the plaintiff. 4. The plaintiff to pay the second defendant's costs. 5. Judgment for the third defendant against the plaintiff. 6. The plaintiff to pay the third defendant's costs. Catchwords: CIVIL LAW – Tort – intentional torts – child abuse – allegations of historic serious physical abuse LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – Personal injury – child abuse – whether serious physical abuse has been proven NEGLIGENCE – Vicarious liability – Employer and employee – whether employed under a contract of service NEGLIGENCE – Duty of care – Non-delegable duty – Scope of duty owed by a school authority – foreseeability of harm NEGLIGENCE – Damages – Personal injury damages – aggravated and exemplary damages EVIDENCE – Weight of evidence – lay witnesses' evidence Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Pt 1B, Div 4, Pt 2 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 61A Education Act 1990 (NSW) ss 35, 47 Education Reform Amendment (School Discipline) Act 1995 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 140 Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) ss 6A, 14, 18A, 52, 63, 68A, Pt 3, Div 3 Cases Cited: Bird v DP (a pseudonym) (2023) 69 VR 408; [2023] VSCA 66 Bird v DP (2024) 98 ALJR 1349; [2024] HCA 41; Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 COWP 63; (1774) 98 ER 969 Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (1951) 217 ALR 1 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Bugmy v The Queen (2012) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Cleary v Booth [1893] 1 QB 465 Commonwealth v Introvigne (1982) 150 CLR 258; [1982] HCA 40 Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394; [1990] HCA 39 Commonwealth of Australia v Winston [2024] NSWCA 277 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22; Gersbach v Gersbach [2018] NSWSC 1685 Gestmin SGPSS.A. v Credit Suisse (UK) Limited [2013] EWHC 3560 Geyer v Redeland Pty Limited [2013] NSWCA 338 GLJ v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Lismore (2023) 414 ALR 635; [2023] HCA 32 Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 196 CLR 1; [1998] HCA 70 Hartnett v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes (No 3) [2024] NSWSC 126 Hartnett v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes (No 6) [2024] NSWSC 1609 Herron v McGregory (1986) 6 NSWLR 246 Holloway v McFeeters (1956) 94 CLR 470; [1956] HCA 25 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8; Longman v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 79 Luxton v Vines (1952) 85 CLR 352; [1952] HCA 19 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; [1990] HCA 20 Mansell v Griffin [1908] 1 KB 160 Planet Fisheries Pty Ltd v La Rosa (1968) 119 CLR 118; [1968] HCA 62 Prince Alfred College Inc v ADC (2016) 258 CLR 134; [2016] HCA 37 Ramsay v Larson (1964) 111 CLR 16 Ryan v Fildes [1938] 3 All ER 517 Seltsam Pty Ltd v Gahleb [2005] NSWCA 208; (2005) 3 DDCR 1 State of NSW v Lepore (2003) 212 CLR 511; [2003] HCA 4 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 185 Williams v Milotin (1957) 97 CLR 465 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Albert John Hartnett (Plaintiff) Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes (First Defendant) Trustees of the Marist Brothers (Second Defendant) Mercy Support Limited (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: E Romaniuk SC with J Masur (Plaintiff) M Robinson (First Defendant) M Slattery (Solicitor) (Second Defendant) D Lloyd SC with D Stretton (Third Defendant)