Niven v SS [2006] NSWCA 338

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Niven v SS [2006] NSWCA 338 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 24 October 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 30 November 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; Giles JA at 3; Tobias JA at 4

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs

CATCHWORDS: DAMAGES – damages arising from indecent assault of a minor – civil proceedings conducted prior to criminal proceedings – where defendant in both proceedings sought stay in civil proceedings until completion of hearing of criminal proceedings – stay refused – whether refusal of stay amounted to a denial of procedural fairness – DAMAGES – aggravated damages – exemplary damages – future economic loss – general damages – assessment – principles – whether excessive – CIVIL PROCEDURE – stay application – principles – guidelines enunciated in McMahon v Gould (1982) 7 ACLR 202 – whether miscarriage of discretion

LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes Act 1900, ss 61J(1), 61M(1), 61N(1) Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 9, 93

Baker v Commissioner of Federal Police (2000) 104 FCR 359 Daniels v Thompson [1998] 3 NZLR 22 Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 196 CLR 1 Halabi v Westpac Banking Corporation (1989) 17 NSWLR 26 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 CASES CITED: James v Hill [2004] NSWCA 301 McMahon v Gould (1982) 7 ACLR 202 Regina v Prasad (1979) 235 ASR 161 Rookes v Barnard [1964] AC 1129 W v W [1999] 2 NZLR 1 Yuill v Spedley Securities Ltd (in liq) (1992) 8 ACSR 272