Lewis v Commonwealth of Australia [2005] NSWSC 959

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Lewis v Commonwealth of Australia [2005] NSWSC 959

HEARING DATE(S) : 16 March 2005, 17 March 2005, 18 March 2005

JUDGMENT DATE : 23 September 2005

JUDGMENT OF : Johnson J at 1

DECISION : 1. Pursuant to s.60G(2) Limitation Act 1969, the limitation period for the cause of action in this proceeding is extended to the date on which the Statement of Claim was filed, being 18 October 2001; 2. The question of costs is reserved.

CATCHWORDS : LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - extension of time - HMAS Voyager - HMAS Melbourne collision - construction and application of ss.60G and 60I Limitation Act 1969

Limitation Act 1969 LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Rules

Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541 Gretton v The Commonwealth [2005] NSWSC 437 Holt v Wynter (2000) 49 NSWLR 128 McLean v Sydney Water Corporation [2001] NSWCA 122 Commonwealth of Australia v Diston [2003] NSWCA 51 CRA Limited v Martignago (1995) 39 NSWLR 13 CASES CITED : State of New South Wales v Judd [2003] NSWCA 355 Harris v Commercial Minerals Limited (1996) 186 CLR 1 Commonwealth of Australia v McLean (1997) 41 NSWLR 389 Aussems v Commonwealth of Australia [2005] NSWSC 217 Hill v Commonwealth of Australia [2005] NSWCA 94 Smith v The Commonwealth of Australia [2004] NSWSC 873

Leonard Lewis (Plaintiff) PARTIES : The Commonwealth of Australia (Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20839/01

Mr J L Sharpe (Plaintiff) COUNSEL : Mr C Barry QC and Mr D Brogan (Defendant)