Young v Waterways Authority of New South Wales [2002] NSWSC 612

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Young v Waterways Authority of New South Wales [2002] NSWSC 612 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2806/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 14/06/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 10 July 2002

PARTIES : Maureen Mary Young (P) Waterways Authority of New South Wales (D14) JUDGMENT OF : Burchett AJ

LOWER COURT Supreme Court (Master) JURISDICTION : LOWER COURT 2806/00 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Master McLaughlin JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : J Gormly SC and D Ash (P) J M Atkin (D14) SOLICITORS : Lincoln Smith & Co (P) Dibbs Barker Gosling (D14) CATCHWORDS : EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL FOUNDING CAUSE OF ACTION, LIMITATION ACT 1969 s 23- Discussion of Waltons Stores v Maher - Commonwealth v Verwayen and Giumelli- Whether a cause of action arising out of equitable estoppel is "for other equitable relief" within s 23- Whether the Limitation Act s 14 applies "by analogy"- Whether since Verwayen the cause of action can no longer be seen as equitable because estoppel is a unified doctrine of common law and equity. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE- Striking out of statement of claim as statute barred- Caution required by Wardley Australia Ltd v WA- Application of that caution to a case where the limitation is alleged to apply "by analogy". LEGISLATION CITED : Limitation Act 1969, ss 14, 23 Supreme Court Act 1970, s 75A The Commonwealth of Australia v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 The Crown v McNeil (1922) 31 CLR 76 Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 Dillwyn v Llewelyn (1862) 4 DeGF & J 517; 45 ER 1285 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 Giumelli v Giumelli (1999) 196 CLR 101 GPG (Australia Trading) Pty Ltd v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd [2000] FCA 875 Graf v Hope Building Corporation (1930) 171 NE 884 CASES CITED : Hillebrand v Penrith Council [2000] NSWSC 1058 Olsson v Dyson (1969) 120 CLR 365 Plimmer v Mayor of the City of Wellington (1884) 9 App Cas 699 Ramsden v Dyson (1886) LR 1 HL 129 Regina v East Sussex County Council; Ex parte Reprotech (Pebsham) Ltd [2002] UK HL 8 Riches v Hogben [1985] 2 Qd R 292 Smith v Clay (1767) 3 Bro CC 646n; 29 ER 743 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 Williams v Minister, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (1994) 35 NSWLR 497 Wardley Australia Ltd v The State of Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 DECISION : Appeal from the Master allowed. Application to strike out the relevant parts of the statement of claim dismissed with costs.