Abriel v Rothman [2002] NSWSC 1056

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Abriel v Rothman [2002] NSWSC 1056 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20636/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 04/11/02, 05/11/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 8 November 2002

PARTIES : Plaintiff - Rudolph Abriel, Vera Abriel and Premier Knits Pty Ltd Defendant - Stephen Rothman JUDGMENT OF : Burchett AJ

COUNSEL : Mr Abriel - in person Mr J.G. Duncan - Defendant SOLICITORS : McCabe Terrill Lawyers - Defendant CATCHWORDS : LEGAL PRACTITIONERS - action against barrister in respect of conduct of appeal - advocate's immunity from suit - whether argument should have been presented of apprehended bias on the part of the trial judge - counsel's paramount duty to the Court - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - circumstances where proceeding was required to be summarily dismissed LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Rules Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Giannarelli v Wraith (1988) 165 CLR 543 Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 at 91 General Steel Industries Inc. v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 at 128-130 Abriel v Australian Guarantee Corporation Ltd [2000] FCA 1198 Abriel v Australian Guarantee Corporation Limited (unreported, 2 March 2001) CASES CITED : Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141 at 147 S S Hontestroom v S S Sagaporack [1927] AC 37 at 47 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CLR 488 at 493 Vakauta v Kelly (1989) 167 CLR 568 at 571 Re J.R.L.; Ex parte C.J.L. (1986) 161 CLR 342 at 352. Rondel v Worsley [1969] 1 AC 191 at 227-228. DECISION : Plaintiffs' action must be summarily dismissed with costs