Combined Excavations & Supplies v Bowis [2000] NSWCA 298

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Combined Excavations & Supplies v Bowis [2000] NSWCA 298 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40310/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 16 October 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 30 October 2000

Combined Excavations & Supplies Pty Ltd (Appellant) PARTIES : v Paul James Bowis (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Heydon JA at 27; Davies AJA at 73

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT 868/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Delaney DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : A: Mr J Hatzistergos R: Mr D Ronzani SOLICITORS : A: Vandervords R: P D Banister CATCHWORDS : District Court - discretion to dispense with trial by jury - what factors are relevant to the exercise of the discretion - whether considerations of a universal character relevant to jury trial may be relied on - whether the factor relied on must be significant and specific - whether primary Judge erred in dispensing with jury. District Court Act 1973, ss 77-79A LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995, s 144 Supreme Court Act 1970, s 85-87, 89 Pambula District Hospital v Herriman (1988) 14 NSWLR 387 Smoje v Trend Laboratories Pty Ltd (Cole J, 27/5/88, unrep) CASES CITED: Forbes Services Memorial Club Limited v Hodge (C/A, 8/5/95, unrep) Nankervis v Ulan Coal Mines Ltd [1999] NSWSC 899 Clifton Bricks Pty Ltd v Gerlach [2000] NSWCA 90 Langford v Turnbull (Kirby P, 29/5/90, unrep) DECISION : Appeal allowed and order below set aside. See para 95.