MASTRONARDI v STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES [2007] NSWCA 54

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: MASTRONARDI v STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES [2007] NSWCA 54

HEARING DATE(S): 8 March 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 21 March 2007

JUDGMENT OF: Ipp JA at 1; Basten JA at 2; Campbell JA at 89

DECISION: (1) Allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the District Court delivered on 9 June 2006; (2) Remit the matter for a new trial in the District Court on all issues; (3) Order the Respondent to pay the Appellant's costs of the appeal; (4) Order that the costs of the trial in the District Court be remitted for consideration of that Court on the new trial.

CATCHWORDS: APPEAL – factual errors in reasoning – whether trial judge erred in not accepting the plaintiff's evidence based on adverse credibility findings and lack of corroboration where there had been factual errors in reaching that conclusion - PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS – 18 months delay in delivering judgment – whether finding of judicial error more readily supportable - MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE – Supreme Court Rules Part 51 Rule 23 – Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 75A – whether substantial wrong or miscarriage of justice thereby occasioned from the errors and delay in judgment

Crown Proceedings Act 1988 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Dust Diseases Tribunal Act 1989 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), Pt 51, r 23

Balenzuela v De Gail (1959) 101 CLR 226 Bujdoso v New South Wales (2004) 151 A Crim R 235 Eade v The King (1924) 34 CLR 154 Edwards v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 193 Expectation Pty Ltd v PRD Realty Pty Ltd (2004) 140 FCR 17 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 Gerlach v Clifton Bricks Pty Ltd (2002) 209 CLR 478 Hadid v Redpath [2001] NSWCA 416, (2001) 35 MVR 152 HTW Valuers (Central Qld) Pty Ltd v Aston Land Pty Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 640 Krivoshev v RSPCA Inc [2005] NSWCA 76 CASES CITED: Monie v Commonwealth of Australia (2005) 63 NSWLR 729 NAIS v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2005] HCA 77; (2005) 80 ALJR 367 New South Wales v Bujdoso [2005] HCA 76, (2005) 80 ALJR 236 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82 Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141 Tory v Megna [2007] NSWCA 13 Walshe v Prest [2005] NSWCA 333 Weiss v The Queen (2005) 224 CLR 300 Whisprun Pty Ltd v Dixon (2003) 77 ALJR 1598