ABRIEL & ORS v BENNETT [2003] NSWSC 368

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : ABRIEL & ORS v BENNETT [2003] NSWSC 368 revised - 7/05/2003 HEARING DATE(S) : 29 & 30 April 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 2 May 2003 JURISDICTION: Common Law JUDGMENT OF : Adams J at 1 DECISION : Action dismissed for abuse of process. The plaintiffs to pay the defendant's costs.

CATCHWORDS : Practice - abuse of process - inherent jurisdiction to dismiss action as abuse of process - plaintiffs attempting to relitigate issues decided in earlier proceedings against another party - present defendant witness in earlier proceedings - substantial identify of issues as to defendant's professional conduct in both proceedings - action against defendant dismissed as abuse of process LEGISLATION CITED : s52, Trade Practices Act 1974 Abriel v AGC & anor [1999] FCA 50 Abriel v Rothman [2002] NSWSC 1056 Haines v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1995) 43 NSWLR 404 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun (1981) 147 CLR 589 CASES CITED : Reichel v Bishop of Oxford (1889) 14 App Cas 665 Reichel v Magrath (1889) 14 App Cas 665 Rippon v Chilcotin Pty Limited & ors (2001) 53 NSWLR 198 State Bank of New South Wales Ltd v Stenhouse Ltd (1997) Aust Tort Reports 81-423 (64,077) Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 373 Rudolph Abriel (First Plaintiff) PARTIES : Vera Abriel (Second Plaintiff) Premier Knits Pty Limited (Third Plaintiff) Annabelle C Bennett (Defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20634/01 COUNSEL : Plaintiff in person Mr S Rares SC with Mr SCG Burley (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Plaintiff in person Speed & Stracey (Defendant)