Gorman v Cook [2002] NSWSC 1149

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Gorman v Cook [2002] NSWSC 1149 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Common Law FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20422/2000 HEARING DATE(S) : 14 November 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 December 2002

Emma Elizabeth Gorman by her tutor Mary Gorman (Plaintiff) PARTIES : Kim Cook (Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Master Harrison

LOWER COURT Supreme Court JURISDICTION : LOWER COURT 20422/2000 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Assistant Registrar Howe JUDICIAL OFFICER :

Mr R H Taperell (Plaintiff) COUNSEL : Mr J Guihot (Defendant) Ms B A Cantle, Cantle Carmichael, Newcastle (Plaintiff) SOLICITORS : Mr P Utiger, Hunter & Hunt, Newcastle (Defendant) CATCHWORDS : Review Registrar's decision - privilege LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Rules - Part 61 r 3 Evidence Act - s 119 Beaufort Air-Sea Equipment Pty Ltd v Emhart Australia Pty Ltd (NSWSC unreported, Master Malpass, 18 December 1992) Brijeski v Sunbeam Corporation Limited (NSWSC, unreported Master Greenwood, 29 January 1997) Westpac Banking Corporation v Abemond Pty Ltd & Westpac Banking Corporation v Cameron (NSWSC unreported, Santow J, 3 November 1994) Modern Woodcraft pty Ltd v Nott (NSWSC unreported, Young J, 7 March 1997) CASES CITED : Mariala Estates Limited v Athanasi & Ors [2001] NSWSC 1013 Abram v National Australia Bank Limited [2001] NSWSC 916 Mutsubishi Electric Australia Pty Limited v Victorian Workcover Authority [2002] VSCA 59 Carnell v Mann (1998) 89 FCR 247 Sparnon v Apand (1996) 138 ALR 735 DECISION : (1) The appeal is upheld; (2) The decision of Assistant Registrar Howe dated 17 June 2002 is set aside; (3) The claim for client legal privilege over the report to the NRMA from the CTP investigator, Trevor Cope dated 7 December 1991 together with statements, diagrams and photographs is upheld; (4) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs before the Assistant Registrar and the costs of the review