Photi v Target Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWDC 265

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Photi v Target Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWDC 265

HEARING DATE(S): 25/6/07-27/6/07 (hearing), 9/8/07, 24/8/07, 18/9/07, 4/10/07, 9/11/07, 23/11/07

JUDGMENT DATE: 11 December 2007

JURISDICTION: Civil

JUDGMENT OF: Gibson DCJ

DECISION: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff in relation to the claim for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and defamation in the sum of $50,000; (2) Judgment for the plaintiff in relation to the claim for assault in the sum of $10,000; (3) Punitive damages of $25,000 (for causes of action other than defamation) awarded to the plaintiff; (4) Parties have leave to bring in Short Minutes of Order in relation to interest for the claims for general and aggravated compensatory damages; (5) Liberty to restore re costs and interest; (6) Exhibits retained for 28 days.

CATCHWORDS: Tort - assault - plaintiff arrested by store security officer - wrongful arrest - false imprisonment - defamation - justification - late plea of qualified privilege - damages - aggravated compensatory damages - punitive damages claim for causes of action other than defamation

Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss.352 and 195 Defamation Act 1974 (NSW), ss.7A, 13, 15, 16 and 46A Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), ss.99 and 100

Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Ainsworth v Burden [2005] NSWCA 174 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419 Bellino v Australian Broadcasting Commission (1996) 185 CLR 183 Bennett v Norban 151A.2d 476 (Pa.1959) Beoco Ltd v Alfa Laval Co Ltd [1994] 4 All ER 464 Chamberlain v R (No 2) (1984) 153 CLR 521 Coyne v Citizen Finance Ltd (1991) 172 CLR 211 Crampton v Nugawela (1996) 41 NSWLR 176 Cretazzo v Lombardi (1975) 13 SASR 4 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Ltd v Arsic (2006) 66 NSWLR 186 Guise v Kouvelis (1946) SR (NSW) 419 Howe and McCullough v Lees (1910) 11 CLR 361 John Lewis & Co v Tims [1952] AC 676 CASES CITED: Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 186 McDonald v Coles Myer Ltd (1995) Aust Tort Rep 81-361 Myer Stores v Soo [1991] 2 VR 597 Roberts v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1 Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2003-2004) 216 CLR 327 Shepherd v R (1990) 170 CLR 573 Skalkos v Assaf [2002] NSWCA 14 State of Queensland v JL Holdings Pty Ltd (1997) 189 CLR 146 State of New South Wales and Anor v Coleman [2000] NSWCA 183 State of New South Wales v Ibbett [2005] NSWCA 445 State of New South Wales v Ibbett (2006) 231 ALR 485 TCN Channel 9 Pty Ltd v Antoniadis (1998) 44 NSWLR 682 Trantum v McDowell [2007] NSWCA 138 Zaravinos v State of New South Wales (2004) 62 NSWLR 58 Zaravinos v State of New South Wales [2004] NSWCA 320 Zarth v Williamson and Ors [2006] NSWCA 246