TC by his tutor SABATINO v THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES & ORS [2001] NSWCA 380

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : TC by his tutor SABATINO v THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES & ORS [2001] NSWCA 380 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40336/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 July 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 31 October 2001

PARTIES : TC by his tutor KRIS SABATINO v THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES & ORS JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Priestley JA at 165; Beazley JA at 168

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Common Law Division LOWER COURT CLD 11844/93 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Studdert J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Appellant: A B Shand QC/ R R I Harper Respondent: F S McAlary QC/ G W Moore SOLICITORS : Appellant: Heidtman & Co Respondent: Crown Solicitor CATCHWORDS : Negligence - Negligent omission - delay in appointing doctor to investigate allegations of sexual abuse - breach of duty - no causal connection with plaintiff's psychiatric disorder - Betts v Whittingslowe - onus of proof - legal onus remains with plaintiff throughout - shift of evidentiary onus. (D) Batiste v State of Queensland [2001] QCA 275 EM Baldwin & Son Pty Ltd v Plane (1999) AustTortsR 81-499 Betts v Whittingslowe (1945) 71 CLR 637 Bendix Mintex Pty Ltd v Barnes (1997) 42 NSWLR 307, Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 408 Carmarthenshire County Council v Lewis [1955] AC 549 Chappel v Hart (1998) 195 CLR 232 CASES CITED: Derrick v Cheung [2001] HCA 48 Desmond v Cullen [2001] NSWCA 238. McGhee v National Coal Board [1972] 3 AllER 1008 Naxakis v Western General Hospital & Anor (1999) 197 CLR 269 Seltsam Pty Ltd v McGuinness (2000) 49 NSWLR 262 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 Wallaby Grip (BAE) Pty Ltd (in liq) v Macleay Area Health Service (1998) 17 NSWCCR 355 Williams v The Minister Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 and the State of New South Wales [2000] NSWCA 255 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 DECISION : 1. Notice of cross appeal struck out. 2. Appeal dismissed with costs.