Walter Vignoli v Sydney Harbour Casino [1999] NSWSC 1113

Reported Decision : (2000) Aust Torts Reports 81-541

New South Wales Supreme Court CITATION : Walter Vignoli v Sydney Harbour Casino [1999] NSWSC 1113 CURRENT JURISDICTION : Common Law Division FILE NUMBER(S) : 20875/96 HEARING DATE(S) : 10,11 and 12 November 1999. JUDGMENT DATE : 22 November 1999

PARTIES : Walter Vignoli (Plaintiff) Sydney Harbour Casino Pty Ltd (First Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Bergin J

COUNSEL : B.W. Collins QC/T.D.F. Hughes (Plaintiff) F.S. McAlary QC/Ms L. McCallum (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Nicholas G Pappas & Co (Plaintiff) Dunhill Madden Butler (Defendant) CATCHWORDS : False Imprisonment of a patron at the Casino in relation to a dispute in respect of an overpayment to him by the Casino; Assessment of Damages; Compensatory damages; Aggravated damages awarded for lack of bona fides in persisting in an unjustifiable defence for a period of three years. Exemplary damages awarded - conscious and contumelious disregard of the plaintiff's rights - objectively conduct by the defendant high-handed deserving of curial disapprobation. ACTS CITED : Defamation Act 1974 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome (1972) AC 1027; Spautz v Butterworth (1996) 41 NSWLR 1; McDonald v Coles Myer Ltd (t/as K-Mart Chatswood) (1995) Aust. Torts Reports 62,682; Woolley v Phillips (unreported NSWSC CA Clarke, Sheller & Cole JJA 26 August 1996); CASES CITED : Walter v Alltools Limited (1994) 171 LTR 371; Myer Stores Ltd v Soo (1991) 2 VR 597; XL Petroleum (NSW) v Caltex Oil (Australia) P/L (1985) 155 CLR 448; Lamb v Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR 1; Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 73 ALJR 45. McGregor on Damages 15th Ed. DECISION : Compensatory Damages par 123; Aggravated Damages par 140; Exemplary Damages 162; 163.