Maynes & Ors v Casey & Ors [2010] NSWDC 285

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Maynes & Ors v Casey & Ors [2010] NSWDC 285

HEARING DATE(S): 21 June 2010 to 25 June 2010

JUDGMENT DATE: 23 December 2010

JURISDICTION: District Court - Civil

JUDGMENT OF: Sidis DCJ

1. Verdict for the defendants. DECISION: 2. The plaintiffs are to pay the defendants' costs of the proceedings as assessed or agreed. This order is suspended for a period of 21 days to allow any party to list the matter within that period for further argument on the issue of costs. 3. Exhibits and affidavits will be retained for 28 days. 4. My reasons are published.

CATCHWORDS: TRESPASS - Whether and when defendants notified of withdrawal of implied right of entry for lawful purposes - Whether first defendant remained on plaintiffs' property for unreasonable period after notification - Whether entry on public road dissecting property amounted to trespass - BREACH OF PRIVACY - Whether tort of privacy recognised at common law - Whether viewing of plaintiffs' property from public road for purpose of gathering evidence a breach of privacy - VICARIOUS LIABILITY - For conduct of contractor - DAMAGES - Absence of evidence to support claim of psychological injury

LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Roads Act 1993

ABC v Lenah Game Meats Pty Limited (2001) 208 CLR 199 Doe v ABC & Ors [2007] VCC 281 Giller v Procopets [2008] VSCA 236 Grosse v Purvis [2003] QDC 151 Halliday v Nevill (1984) 155 CLR 1 CASES CITED: John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited v Hitchcock [2007] NSWCA 364 Kuru v NSW (2008) 236 CLR 1 Leighton Contractors Pty Limited v Fox; Calliden Insurance Ltd v Fox (2009) 240 CLR 1 NSW v Ibbett (2006) 229 CLR 638 Plenty v Dillon (1991) 171 CLR 635 Thompson v Vincent [2005] NSWCA 219