Diston v The Commonwealth of Australia [2002] NSWSC 484

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Diston v The Commonwealth of Australia [2002] NSWSC 484 revised - 17/06/2002 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Common Law FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20774/97 HEARING DATE(S) : 9 & 10 May 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 10 May 2002

Clive Walter Diston (Appellant) PARTIES : The Commonwealth of Australia (Respondant) JUDGMENT OF : O'Meally AJ at 1-40

LOWER COURT Supreme Court (Master) JURISDICTION : LOWER COURT 20774/97 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Master Harrison JUDICIAL OFFICER :

Mr M Joseph SC with Mr W Walsh (Appelant) COUNSEL : Mr C R R Hoeben SC with Mr D Brogan (Respondant) James Taylor & Co Agent Holman Webb SOLICITORS : (Appellant)

Australian Government Solicitor (Respondant) CATCHWORDS : Appeal from Master - Limitation Act Ss60G and 60I - discretion to extend time - finding by Master plaintiff lacked veracity - finding based on inconsistencies between document and evidence - finding not justified - finding by Master absence of employment records affect defendant's capacity to investigate economic loss - argued by defendant absence of records affect its capacity to investigate claims for general damages - not considered before Master - no prejudice to defendant - fair trial awarded to defendant - time extended - appeal upheld LEGISLATION CITED : Limitation Act 1969 Ss60G and 60I Devries and Anor v Australian National Railways Commission and Anor [1992-1993] 177 CLR 472. Rex v White (1992) 17 CrAppR CASES CITED : Howlan v Marson Transport Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 346 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 449 Parson v Doukas (2001) 52 NSWLR 162 DECISION : (1)Appeal upheald (2) Time within which appellant may bring proceedings extended to 14 August 1997 (3) Respondent to pay appellant's costs.