Bruce Harvey and Anor v State of New South Wales [2006] NSWSC 1436

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Bruce Harvey and Anor v State of New South Wales [2006] NSWSC 1436

HEARING DATE(S) : 6 June 2005, 7 June 2005, 8 June 2005, 9 June 2005, 10 June 2005, 14 June 2005, 15 June 2005, 16 June 2005, 25 August 2005, 28 November 2005, 29 November 2005, 30 November 2005, 5 December 2005, 6 December 2005, 9 December 2005, 13 December 2005

JUDGMENT DATE : 21 December 2006

JURISDICTION : Equity Division

JUDGMENT OF : Johnson J at 1

DECISION : 1. Verdict and judgment for the Defendant ; 2. Plaintiffs to pay the Defendant's costs of the proceedings.

CATCHWORDS : CLAIM FOR DAMAGES - misleading and deceptive conduct claim against State of New South Wales for false and misleading statements made by officer of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs - whether ostensible authority established to render State of New South Wales liable - whether Plaintiff put on inquiry by circumstances of dealing with officer - whether Department of Aboriginal Affairs carrying on business for purposes of Fair Trading Act 1987 - whether State of New South Wales vicariously liable for acts of officer - whether officer engaged in a frolic of his own - whether direct liability in negligence established against State of New South Wales arising from appointment of officer to departmental position and supervision of him

Fair Trading Act 1987 LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 Real Property Act 1900 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules

De Gioia v Darling Island Stevedoring & Lightecage Co Ltd (1941) 42 SR(NSW) 1 Challenge Finance Limited for Forshaw (No 4) (1995) 217 ALR 264 Hunt v Watkins (2000) 49 NSWLR 508 Carr v Baker (1936) 36 SR(NSW) 301 R v Serratore (1999) 48 NSWLR 101 Sirway Asia Pacific Pty Limited v Commonwealth of Australia [2002] FCA 1152 Paramedical Services Pty Limited v Ambulance Service of NSW [1999] FCA 548 State of New South Wales v RT & YE Falls Investments Pty Limited (2003) 57 NSWLR 1 Meadow Gem Pty Limited v ANZ Executors and Trustee Company Limited (Supreme Court of Victoria, Hedigan J, 18 May 1994, BC9401058); (1994) ATPR (Digest) 46-130 Northside Developments Pty Limited v Registrar General (1990) 170 CLR 146 Pacific Carriers Limited v BNP Paribas (2004) 218 CLR 451 CASES CITED : Freeman and Lockyer v Brockhurst Park Properties (Mangal) Limited (1964) 2 QB 480 Essington Investments Pty Limited v Regency Property Pty Limited [2004] NSWCA 375 Armagas Limited v Mundogas SA (1986) AC 717 Deatons Pty Limited v Flew (1949) 79 CLR 370 State of New South Wales v Lepore (2003) 212 CLR 511 Starks v RSM Security Pty Limited [2004] NSWCA 351 Rosenberg v Percival (2001) 205 CLR 434 R v Watkins [2005] NSWCCA 164 Neill v NSW Fresh Food & Ice Pty Limited (1963) 108 CLR 362 Vozza v Tooth & Co Limited (1964) 112 CLR 316 Kingshott v Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Co Australia Limited (No. 2) (1987) 8 NSWLR 707 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL and Others (1992-1994) 179 CLR 332 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Limited (1990) 169 CLR 638