CENTRAL SYDNEY AREA HEALTH SERVICE v COOPER [2001] NSWCA 329

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : CENTRAL SYDNEY AREA HEALTH SERVICE v COOPER [2001] NSWCA 329 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41008/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 16 August 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 19 September 2001

PARTIES : Central Sydney Area Health Service - Appellant Therese Cooper - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Sheller JA at 2; Studdert J at 44

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT 3347/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Mahoney DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : C R R Hoeben SC - Appellant P J Deakin QC/D J Hooke - Respondent SOLICITORS : P W Turk & Associates - Appellant Beilby Poulden Costello - Respondent CATCHWORDS : PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - rehearing of arbitrated dispute - where party fails to notify of intention to expand scope of rehearing - whether other party is entitled to adjournment in order to prepare its case - whether party should not be allowed adjournment because they treated arbitration hearing as a "dry run" - appropriate balance between principles of justice and case management in such a situation. LEGISLATION CITED : Arbitration (Civil Actions) Act 1983 District Court Act 1973 Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161 MacDougall v Curleveski (1996) 40 NSWLR 430 Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R 67 Cropper v Smith [1884] 26 ChD 700 CASES CITED: Clough and Rogers v Frog (1974) 48 ALJR 481 State of Queensland v JL Holdings Pty Limited (1997) 189 CLR 146 Sali v SPC Limited (1963) 67 ALJR 841 Carryer v Kelly (1969) 90 WN (Pt 1) NSW 566 Sydney City Council v Ke-Su Investments Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 246 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed; 2. Verdict and judgment of 11 December 2000 set aside; 3. Remit the matter to the District Court for rehearing; 4. Costs of the first trial to be at the discretion of the Judge rehearing the matter; 5. The respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal but to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 if so qualified.