SMITH v GRANT [2006] NSWCA 244

Reported Decision : 67 NSWLR 735

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: SMITH v GRANT [2006] NSWCA 244 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 7 August 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 5 September 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Handley JA at 1; McColl JA at 2; Basten JA at 3

DECISION: (1) Leave to appeal granted subject to the condition that the insurer file a notice of appeal within seven days of the date of this judgment; (2) Appeal dismissed; (3) Appellant to pay the Respondent's costs of the appeal and of the application for leave to appeal.

CATCHWORDS: LIMITATION OF ACTION – Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), s 109(3) & s66(2) – dilatory conduct on the part of the applicant's solicitor – who had onus of proof in the application for extension of time – whether "full" explanation included explanation for the conduct of the solicitor – whether "full" explanation required applicant to explain knowledge of the limitation period – whether the solicitor's conduct was necessary for the explanation given to be an explanation of "satisfactory"

Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s5F District Court Rules (NSW), Part 39A, r32 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s131 LEGISLATION CITED: Limitation Act 1980 (UK), s14 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 5, 43, 61, 66, 92, 98, 108, 109 Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW), ss 40, 43A Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151D

Adams v Bracknell Forest Borough Council [2005] 1 AC 76 Blackburn v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd (2004) 61 NSWLR 632 Bluescope Steel Ltd v De Caires [2005] NSWCA 431 Buller v Black (2003) 56 NSWLR 425 Diaz v Truong [2002] NSWCA 265, (2002) 37 MVR 158 Figliuzzi v Yonan [2005] NSWCA 290 Guest v Southern (unrep, 22 September 1995) CASES CITED: House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Itek Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott (2002) 54 NSWLR 207 Khoury v Linfox Australia Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 51 Manderson v Ellis (by his Tutor) (2002) 37 MVR 214 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259 Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd v Khoshaba [2006] NSWCA 41 R v Anna Zhang [2005] NSWCCA 437 Russo v Aiello (2003) 215 CLR 643