Bechara v Bonacorso [2009] NSWDC 131

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Bechara v Bonacorso [2009] NSWDC 131

HEARING DATE(S): 19 March, 12 June 2009

JUDGMENT DATE: 12 June 2009

EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE : 12 June 2009

JURISDICTION: Civil

JUDGMENT OF: Gibson DCJ

1. Grant leave to the plaintiff to file the further affidavit of Mr Kalantzis by 4:00pm Friday 12 June 2009. 2. Judgment to be emailed to the parties following receipt of Mr Kalantzis' affidavit on Friday 12 June 2009. DECISION: 3. Defendant's Notice of Motion dismissed. 4. Extend the limitation period from 17 May to 27 October 2008 so that the plaintiff may bring a claim in defamation against the defendant for the first matter complained of. 5. Defendant pay plaintiff's costs. 6. Parties have leave to file Short Minutes of Order for a Timetable for the further conduct of these proceedings.

CATCHWORDS: Abuse of process – plaintiff commences proceedings for defamation arising out of COPS reports obtained under subpoena in unrelated proceedings in Local Court – plaintiff seeks leave from Local Court and police to do so – whether defendant can maintain objection as to abuse of process – whether COPS report a confidential or public document – whether stay should be refused because proceedings unconnected – whether leave should be granted to commence proceedings out of time

LEGISLATION CITED: Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), s 56A Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), s 28(4)(e)

Ainsworth v Burden (2003) 56 NSWLR 620 Ainsworth v Burden [1999] NSWSC 793 Ampolex Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Company (Canberra) Ltd (1995) 13 ACLC 1611 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v INFO4PC.COM Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 258 Capital Television Group Ltd v Northern Rivers Television Pty Ltd (Bainton J, 4 September 1995) Crest Homes plc v Marks [1987] AC 829; [1987] 2 All ER 1074; [1987] 3 WLR 293 Eltran Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corp (1990) 25 FCR 322; 98 ALR 141 Halcon International Inc v Shell Transport & Trading Co Ltd [1979] RPC 459 CASES CITED: Harman v Secretary of State for Home Department [1983] 1 AC 280 Holpitt Pty Ltd v Varimu Pty Ltd (1991) 29 FCR 576; (1991) 103 ALR 684 Lassanah v State of New South Wales [2009] NSWDC 73 Mann v Medical Defence Union Ltd [1997] FCA 45 Miller v R L Polk & Co (Australia) Pty Ltd (New South Wales Court of Appeal, 29 July 1985, unreported). Miller v R L Polk & Co (Australia) Pty Ltd (Supreme Court of NSW, Hunt J, 4 July 1985, unreported) Moses v State of New South Wales [2009] NSWDC 74 Riddick v Thames Board Mills Ltd [1977] QB 881 Spalla v St George Motor Finance Ltd (2004) 209 ALR 703; [2004] FCA 1014 Tame v New South Wales [2002] HCA 35