State of New South Wales v. Riley [2003] NSWCA 208

Reported Decision : 57 NSWLR 496

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : State of New South Wales v. Riley [2003] NSWCA 208 HEARING DATE(S) : 14 and 15 April 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 1 August 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Hodgson JA at 26; Nicholas J at 141 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed to the extent of reducing the respondent's damages by $85,000.00 to $185,307.42. 2. Appeal otherwise dismissed. 3. Cross-appeal dismissed. 4. Respondent to pay one-half of the appellant's costs of the appeal and cross-appeal, and to have a suitor's fund certificate in respect of his costs of the appeal, if otherwise entitled. 5. Leave to make submissions on the costs below, in accordance with the judgment.

CATCHWORDS : DAMAGES - Tort - Assault - False imprisonment - Psychological damage - How aggravated damages differ from ordinary compensatory damages - Exemplary damages - Need for more than ordinary human fallibility - EVIDENCE - Proof on balance of probabilities - Injury alleged to be caused while plaintiff in police custody - Mechanism of injury not established - Whether inference open that injury caused by negligence of police - TORT - Assault - False imprisonment - Injury an unintended and indirect consequence - Whether damages recoverable - Whether contributory negligence applicable - TORT - Assault - False imprisonment - Arrest by police - No explanation given to person arrested - Defence of necessity - Defence of opinion under Mental Health Act - MENTAL HEALTH - Confinement and restraint of mentally ill persons - Opinion of police officer that person mentally disurbed and has committed an offence - Arrest and detention - Whether explanation required Crimes Act 1900 ss.352, 357(2), 357E LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965, ss.8-9 Mental Health Act 1990, ss.20-22, 24, 27, 29-30 Motor Accidents Act 1998, ss.3, 40 Adams v. Kennedy (2000) 49 NSWLR 78 Barley v. Paroz, Qld. Supreme Court, 4/4/79 Brazil v. Chief Constable of Surrey [1983] 1 WLR 1155 Cassell & Co. Ltd. v. Broome [1972] AC 1027 Director of Public Prosecutions v. Serratore (1995) 38 NSWLR 137 Christie v. Leachinsky [1947] AC 573 Fontin v. Katapodis (1962) 108 CLR 177 Gray v. Motor Accidents Commission (1998) 196 CLR 1 CASES CITED : Hoebergen v. Koppens [1974] 2 NSLR 597 Horkin v. North Melbourne Football Club Social Club [1983] 1 VR 153 Lamb v. Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR 1 Lane v. Holloway [1968] 1 QB 397 Pedro v. Diss (1980) 72 CrimAppR 193 Perkins v Police (1988) 1 NZLR 257 Quinn v. Leatham [1901] AC 495 Sindle v. New York City Transit Authority (1973) 352 NYS2d 183 Venning v. Chin (1974) 10 SASR 299 Whitfeld v. De Lauret & Co. Ltd. (1920) 29 CLR 71 PARTIES : State of New South Wales - appellant Jonathon Riley - respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40769/02 COUNSEL : Mr. J. Maconachie QC with Mr. P. Saidi for appellant Mr. R. Toner SC with Mr. C. Heazlewood and Ms. S. Walsh for the respondent SOLICITORS : I.V Knight, Crown Solicitor, Sydney for appellant Griffiths Tierney, Bega for respondent