Rundle v Salvation Army (South Australia Property Trust) & Anor [2007] NSWSC 443

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Rundle v Salvation Army (South Australia Property Trust) & Anor [2007] NSWSC 443

HEARING DATE(S) : 30 October 2006; 31 October 2006; 1 November 2006; 2 November 2006

JUDGMENT DATE : 7 May 2007

JURISDICTION : Common Law Division

JUDGMENT OF : Simpson J

DECISION : (1) Pursuant to s48 of the Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA) the time for commencement of proceedings against the first defendant is extended to 25 March 2003; (2) The first defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs of the application.

CATCHWORDS : LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – tort – personal injury – psychological/psychiatric injury arising from sexual abuse of plaintiff as a child in care of first defendant between 1960 and 1965 – plaintiff under disability until April 1971 – action statute barred – application for extension of time – application governed by SA legislation – amendments to legislation – whether amendments apply to proceedings already commenced – whether plaintiff had an accrued right – correct identification of right said to have accrued – whether material fact(s) not ascertained by plaintiff until within twelve months of institution of proceedings – whether any conduct of first defendant available to excuse plaintiff's failure to institute proceedings within limitation period – what constitutes material fact – when plaintiff aware of material facts – whether it is just to grant extension of time – estoppel – whether failure of first defendant to particularise opposition to application relevant to justice of granting extension – Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA) s 48

LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Ipp Recommendations) Act 2004 Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA)

Boral Windows v Industry Research & Development Board [1998] FCA 455; 83 FCR 215 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor [1996] HCA 25; 186 CLR 541 Ellis v Pell [2006] NSWSC 109 John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson [2000] HCA 36; 203 CLR 503 Laurie v Renad [1892] 3 Ch 402 Longman v The Queen [1989] HCA 60; 168 CLR 79 CASES CITED : Maxwell v Murphy [1957] HCA 7; 96 CLR 261 Nowlan v Marson Transport Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 346; 53 NSWLR 116 Re Rutledge [1973] VR 733 Reid v Reid (1886) 31 Ch D 402 Sola Optical Australia Pty Ltd v Mills [1987] HCA 57; 163 CLR 628 The Commonwealth of Australia v Verwayen [1990] HCA 39; 170 CLR 394 Wright v Donatelli (1995) 65 SASR 307