Potier v Huber & Ors [2004] NSWSC 720

Reported Decision : 148 A Crim R 399

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Potier v Huber & Ors [2004] NSWSC 720 HEARING DATE(S) : 21/07/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 12 August 2004 JURISDICTION: Common Law Division JUDGMENT OF : Kirby J DECISION : 1. The Summons is dismissed; 2. The plaintiff should pay the defendants' costs.

CATCHWORDS : Appeal from Magistrate's decision - procedure for private prosecution - nature of Magistrate's function - whether application frivolous, vexatious, without substance or has no reasonable prospect of success - whether error on face of record or jurisdictional error - including constructive failure to exercise jurisdiction. Justices Act 1902 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 LEGISLATION CITED : Local Courts (Criminal and Applications Procedure) Rule 2003 Crimes Act 1900 Supreme Court Act 1970 Potier v Magistrate Maughan [2004] NSWSC 590 R v Manos: Ex parte Samuels (1981) 28 SASR 262 CASES CITED : Craig v State of New South Wales (1994-95) 184 CLR 163 Victims' Compensation Fund Corporation v GM [2004] NSWCA 185 Saffron v The Director of Public Prosecutions (1989) 16 NSWLR 397 Malcolm Huntley Potier (Pl) PARTIES : Magistrate Huber (1st Def) Michael Barr (2nd Def) Ross Stainer (3rd Def) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 11255/04 COUNSEL : D J Brezniak (Pl) I D Bourke (2 & 3 Defs) SOLICITORS : M H Potier (Pl in person) J Shevlin, Crown Sol (2 & 3 Defs)