O'Neill v Foster [2004] NSWSC 906

Reported Decision : 61 NSWLR 499

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : O'Neill v Foster [2004] NSWSC 906 HEARING DATE(S) : 13 September 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 8 October 2004 JURISDICTION: Equity JUDGMENT OF : Campbell J DECISION : Three year limitation period for trespass to the person, subject to the possibility of discretionary extension. Limitation period for cross-claim brought against plaintiff stops on date when plaintiff commences suit against defendant.

CATCHWORDS : LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - action for trespass to the person - action brought by cross-claim against plaintiff - TORT - trespass to the person - limitation period - limitation period for cross-claim alleging trespass to the person Compensation to Relatives Act 1897 Limitation Act 1623 (UK) Limitation Act 1939 (UK) Limitation Act 1963 (UK) LEGISLATION CITED : Limitation Act 1969 Limitation Act 1980 (UK) Limitation Bill 1969 Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vic) Limitation (Amendment) Act 1990 Property (Relationships) Act 1984 Ashby v White (1703) 2 Lord Raym 938 Battiato v Lagana [1992] 2 QdR 234 Billings v Reed [1945] KB 11 Clegg v Dearden (1848) 12 QB 576 Dawson v Commonwealth (1994) 12 WAR 29 Ellis v The Loftus Iron Company (1874) LR 10 CP 10 Hayward v Georges Ltd [1966] VR 202 Kruber v Grzesiak [1963] VR 621 CASES CITED : Letang v Cooper [1965] 1 QB 232 Long v Hepworth [1968] 1 WLR 1299 Mason v Mason [1997] 1 VR 325 McDonell & East Limited v McGregor (1936) 56 CLR 50 Nelson v Wyong Shire Council (1989) 68 LGRA 164 Nicholls v Ely Beet Sugar Factory, Limited [1936] 1 Ch 343 Reeves v Butcher [1891] 2 QB 509 State of New South Wales v Judd [2003] NSWCA 355 Stubbings v Webb [1993] AC 498 Williams v Milotin (1957) 97 CLR 465 Stephen O'Neill - Plaintiff/Appellant PARTIES : Beverley Foster - First Defendant/Respondent Mary Petty - Second Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2317/03 COUNSEL : P Cullen - Appellant D E Baran - Respondent SOLICITORS : Garden & Montgomerie - Appellant Barclay Benson - Respondent