AINSWORTH v BURDEN [2004] NSWSC 552

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : AINSWORTH v BURDEN [2004] NSWSC 552 HEARING DATE(S) : 15/12/03; 17/12/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 25 June 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Levine J at 1 DECISION : 1. The Amended Notice of Motion is dismissed.; 2. The applicant/defendant is to pay the respondent/plaintiff's costs.; 3. Exhibit A is to be returned.; 4. The matter is to be listed before the Registrar at 9.00am Friday 2nd July 2004.

CATCHWORDS : Defamation- Summary Dismissal of action- SCR Pt 13 r 5- absolute privilege claimed. Defamation Act 1974 Freedom of Information Act 1989 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 1993, No 97 Police Regulation (Allegation of Misconduct) Act 1978 Police Service Act 1900 Police Service (Complaints, Discipline & Appeals) Amendment Act 1993, No. 38 Clark v Ainsworth Levine J, unreported, 29 August 1997. Commissioner of Police v District Court of NSW & Anor (1993) 31 NSWLR 606. Hercules v Phease [1994] 2 VR 411 CASES CITED : Mann v O'Neill [1996-1997] 191 CLR 204. Mahon v Rahn & Ors [2000] 1 WLR 2150 Oliver v Bryant Strata Management Pty Ltd & Ors (1995) 41 NSWLR 514 Peter Kent Development Pty Ltd v Australian & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd Hunt J, unreported, 6 May 1980 Taylor v Serious Fraud Office [1999] 2 AC 177. PARTIES : Leonard Hastings Ainsworth: Respondent/Plaintiff Leslie James Burden: Applicant/ Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 21216/96 COUNSEL : Applicant/Defendant: R Stitt QC/ T Blackburn SC Respondent/Plaintiff: B Donovan QC/ R Rasmussen SOLICITORS : Applicant/Defendant: Hunt & Hunt Respondent/Plaintiff: Dibbs Barker Gosling Lawyers