COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA v DISTON [2003] NSWCA 51

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA v DISTON [2003] NSWCA 51 HEARING DATE(S) : 14 March 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 May 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Sheller JA at 2; Grove J at 55 DECISION : 1 Extend the time for the claimant to apply for leave to appeal up to and including the date of the filing of the summons for leave to appeal; 2 Grant leave to appeal ; 3 Appeal allowed; 4 Set aside the orders of O'Meally AJ; 5 The opponent to pay the claimant's costs of the appeal to O'Meally AJ; 6 Restore the order of Master Harrison dismissing the opponent's notice of motion filed on 14 August 1997 with costs; 7 The opponent to pay the claimant's costs of this appeal but have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 if so entitled.

CATCHWORDS : Limitation of Actions - Extension of time - Exercise of discretion by court - - Principles - Reliability of accused - Real possibility of significant prejudice to defendant LEGISLATION CITED : Limitation Act 1969 Motor Accidents Act 1988 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541 Devries & Anor v Australian National Railways Commission & Anor (1993) 177 CLR 472 Do Carmo v Ford Excavations Pty Ltd (1981) 1 NSWLR 409 Holt v Wynter (2000) 49 NSWLR 128 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 449 CASES CITED : Nowlan Transport Pty Limited (2002) 53 NSWLR 116 Parsons v Doukas (2001) 52 NSWLR 162 R v White (1922) 17 CAR 60 Salido v Nominal Defendant (1993) 32 NSWLR 524 The Commonwealth v McLean (1997) 41 NSWLR 389 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust v Lea (2002) NSWCA 55 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531 PARTIES : Commonwealth of Australia - Claimant Walter Cliver Diston - Opponent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40739/02 COUNSEL : C R R Hoeben SC/D J Brogan - Claimant M J Joseph SC/W D H Walsh - Opponent SOLICITORS : Australian Government Solicitor - Claimant James Taylor & Co - Opponent