Commonwealth of Australia v Smith [2007] NSWCA 168

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Commonwealth of Australia v Smith [2007] NSWCA 168

HEARING DATE(S): 31 May 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 13 July 2007

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA at 1; McColl JA at 83; Studdert J at 126

DECISION: Application for leave to appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: Limitations - Voyager/Melbourne collision - whether error in extending limitation period - leave to appeal refused on issue of awareness of psychiatric injury and connection with collision - appellant did not raise issue at trial - by majority, no error in exercise of discretion to extend limitation period - reference to commonality of issues in many Voyager/Melbourne collision extension cases and whether appellant's current approach should continue.

LEGISLATION CITED: Limitation Act 1969 Civil Procedure Act 2005

Blyth v Commonwealth of Australia [2005] NSWSC 721; Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541; Commonwealth of Australia v Diston [2003] NSWCA 51; Commonwealth of Australia v Lewis [2007] NSWCA 127; Commonwealth v McLean (1996) 41 NSWLR 389; Commonwealth of Australia v Shaw (2006) 66 NSWLR 325; Commonwealth of Australia v Smith [2005] NSWCA 478; Drayton Coal Pty Ltd v Drain (CA, 22 August 1995, unreported); Holt v Wynter (2000) 49 NSWLR 128; House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; Hughes Aircraft Systems International v Airservices Australia (1997) 76 FCR 151; Jones v Royal Hospital for Women (CA, 24 July 1998, unreported); Mahoney v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd (1985) 156 CLR 522; McLean v Commonwealth of Australia (Supreme Court of New South Wales, Sperling J, 18 June 1996; unreported); CASES CITED: McLean v Sydney Water Corporation [2001] NSWCA 1222; Melbourne Steamship Co Ltd v Moorehead (1912) 15 CLR 333; Micallef v ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 274; Parsons v Douglas (2001) 52 NSWLR 163; Pearce v Commonwealth [2005] NSWSC 359; Purkess v Critenden (1965) 114 CLR 164; Sauer v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2006] NSWCA 364; Scott v Handley [1999] FCA 404; Smith v Morton [2004] NSWCA 84 South Western Sydney Area Health Service v Gabriel [2001] NSWCA 477; State of Queensland v Stephenson (2006) 226 CLR 197; Sydney City Council v Zegerac (1998) 43 NSWLR 195; Telstra Corporation Ltd v Rea [2002] NSWCA 49; Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 223 CLR 422; Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158.