Design & Survey Neon P/L v Davies [2004] NSWCA 274

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Design & Survey Neon P/L v Davies [2004] NSWCA 274 HEARING DATE(S) : 26 May 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 11 August 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Handley JA at 1; Santow JA at 2; Bryson JA at 61 DECISION : Appeal allowed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - Personal injury - accident on appellant's property - though respondent once worked for appellant, at time of accident was not employed by appellant - preliminary dismissal order under Pt 1 r2A DCR made following respondent's failure to appear at a show cause hearing - two and half year delay by respondent due to continuing drug addiction, rehabilitation and problems in domestic relationship - delay in making application to set aside preliminary dismissal order - preliminary dismissal order set aside - appeal against decision setting aside preliminary dismissal order - appellant seeks to reinstate that dismissal order and so dispose of respondent's legal action - leave to appeal granted - delay in taking further steps in proceedings - whether extension of time caused prejudice to the appellant - whether Pt 1 r7A(5) DCA appropriate source of power - whether proceedings were irregular (by majority) - whether appellate intervention warranted in discretionary decision on matter of practice and procedure - extension of time should not be exercised in favour of respondent. District Court Act 1973 s68A; s81; s159 LEGISLATION CITED : District Court Rules 1973 Pt 1 r7A; Pt 3 r2; Pt.8 r.8(3); Pt 18 r3; Pt.31 r.12A Workers Compensation Act Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170 Bamforth v. Betcke (2003) NSWCA 116 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541 Erhard v Bhatia [2002] NSWCA 388 FAI General Insurance Co Ltd v Southern Cross Exploration NL (1988) 165 CLR 268 Finance Facilities Pty Ltd & Ors v. Commissioner of Taxation (1970) 127 CLR 106 Fitzgerald v FJ Leonhardt Pty Ltd (1997) 189 CLR 215 Gala v Preston (1991) 172 CLR 243 Gollan v Nugent (1988) 166 CLR 18 Hardy v Motor Insurers' Bureau [1964] 2 QB 745 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 CASES CITED : Kruger v. The Commonwealth (1997) 190 CLR 1 Lovell v Lovell (1950) 81 CLR 513 Mace v Murray (1955) 92 CLR 370 Micallef v. ICI Australia Operations Ltd [2001] NSWCA 274 Nelson v Nelson (1995) 184 CLR 538 Re Will of F B Gilbert (deceased) (1946) 46 SR(NSW) 318 Saad v. Robins & Sons Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 87 Smith v Jenkins (1970) 119 CLR 397 Sophron v The Nominal Defendant (1957) 96 CLR 469 State of Queensland v J L Holdings Pty Ltd (1997) 189 CLR 146 Yango Pastoral Co Pty Ltd v First Chicago Australia Ltd (1978) 139 CLR 410 Zhao v Posa [2004] NSWCA 184 PARTIES : DESIGN AND SURVEY NEON PTY LIMITED (Claimant/Appellant) Stephen DAVIES (Opponent/Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41035/03 COUNSEL : D McLURE (Claimant/Appellant) C A VINDIN (Opponent/Respondent) SOLICITORS : Vero In House Legal (Claimant/Appellant) Bale Boshev Lawyers (Opponent/Respondent)