Clutha v Millar (No.4) [2002] NSWSC 703

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Clutha v Millar (No.4) [2002] NSWSC 703 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 4834/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 24 July, 7 August 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 12 August 2002

Clutha Ltd (in liq) (P) Frederick William Millar (D1) John McClelland Armstrong (D2) Denis John Frew (D3) John Knox Doherty (D4) PARTIES : Charles Ronald Longworth (D5) Donald George Thomas (D6) Ernest Neil Scott (D7) Hiroshi Yoshikawa (D8) Hirosuke Yamamoto (D9) Nichimen Corporation (D10) Nichimen Australia Ltd (D11) JUDGMENT OF : Austin J

Mr G Seib (P) COUNSEL : Mr G Lucarelli (D1 to D7) Mr J Marshall (D10 & D11) Piper Alderman (P) SOLICITORS : Minter Ellison (D1 to D7) Clayton Utz (D10 & D11) CATCHWORDS : TORT - contribution between concurrent tortfeasors - whether decision that plaintiff's action against one alleged tortfeasor should be summarily dismissed because it is time-barred prevents claim for contribution by concurrent alleged tortfeasor - whether Court should defer entry of judgment in favour of first alleged tortfeasor to allow second alleged tortfeasor time to bring summary dismissal application to decision LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) s 6 Limitations Act 1969 (NSW) ss 14, 26 Brambles Constructions Pty Ltd v Helmers (1966) 114 CLR 213 Clutha v Millar (No 2) [2002] NSWSC 523 Clutha v Millar (No 3) [2002] NSWSC 642 Clutha v Millar [2002] NSWSC 362 CASES CITED : Cockatoo Dockyard Pty Ltd v Commonwealth [2001] NSWCA 468 George Wimpey & Co Ltd v British Overseas Airways Corporation [1955] AC 169 Hart v Hall & Pickles Ltd [1969] 1 QB 405 Harvey v R G O'Dell Ltd, Galway (Third Party) [1958] 2 QB 78 James Hardie & Co Pty Ltd v Seltsam Pty Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 53 Nottingham Health Authority v Nottingham City Council [1988] 1 WLR 903 DECISION : Entry of judgment for first alleged tortfeasor not to be deferred.