JANET M. GILCHRIST & ORS. v. THE ESTATE OF THE LATE SARA ALEXANDER TAYLOR [2004] NSWCA 476

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : JANET M. GILCHRIST & ORS. v. THE ESTATE OF THE LATE SARA ALEXANDER TAYLOR [2004] NSWCA 476 HEARING DATE(S) : 13/12/2004; 14/12/2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 21 December 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P; Beazley JA; Giles JA DECISION : 1. Dismiss the notice of motion to adduce further evidence.; 2 Summons for Leave to Appeal dismissed.; 3. The claimants are to pay the respondent's costs.

CATCHWORDS : JUDGMENT - Consent judgment - Death of plaintiff - Whether defendant entitled to a reduction in the amount of damages payable where plaintiff dies shortly after the date of consent judgment. - APPEAL - Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s.75A - Construction - Appeal to the Court of Appeal is by way of re-hearing - Discretion to admit further evidence - Power conferred by s.75A is to be construed in the appellate context - Importance of public interest in finality of litigation. LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Doherty v. Liverpool District Council (1991) 22 NSWLR 284 CASES CITED : McCann v. Sheppard [1973] 1 WLR 540 Mulholland v. Mitchell [1971] AC 666 Public Trustee; Saroukas (decd) v. Sutherland Shire Council (1992) Aust Torts Reports 81-149 PARTIES : Janet M. Gilchrist, Adrian Lowe and the Greater Murray Health Service (Claimants) The Estae of the lata Sara Alexander Taylor (Opponent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40412/2003 COUNSEL : P. Brereton SC (Claimant) B. Walker SC/L. McCallum (Opponent) SOLICITORS : Blake Dawson Waldron (Claimant) Marshall Sheehan & Associates (Opponent)