3WJ Pty Ltd & Anor v Kanj [2008] NSWCA 321

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: 3WJ Pty Ltd & Anor v Kanj [2008] NSWCA 321

HEARING DATE(S): 24 November 2008 JUDGMENT OF: Allsop P at 1, 33, 44; Hodgson JA at 40; Ipp JA at 2

EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE: 24 November 2008

1. The appeal is upheld. 2. The judgment of Johnstone DCJ is set aside. DECISION: 3. The matter is remitted to the District Court for a new trial. 4. The respondent to pay the appellants' costs of the appeal. 5. The costs of the trial to be at the discretion of the trial judge who hears the remitted trial.

CATCHWORDS: EVIDENCE - credibility - surprise rule - where trial judge refused to allow the appellants to call witnesses impugning credibility of respondents' witness - whether pleadable accusation of fraud - EVIDENCE - prior inconsistent statement - cross examination of own witness - whether trial judge had regard to matters set out in s 192 of the Evidence Act 1995

LEGISLATION CITED: Evidence Act 1995 Suitors' Fund Act 1951

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Baulderstone v Gordion Runoff [2008] NSWCA 243 Ghazal v GIO (1992) 29 NSWLR 236 Ghazal v GIO of NSW (1992) 20 NSWLR 336 Glover v Australian Ultra Concrete Floors Pty Limited [2003] NSWCA 80 CASES CITED: Inzaurralde v GIO (Court of Appeal, 28 October 1992, unreported) Jazairy v Najjar [1999] NSWCA; (1999) 27 MVR 4398 Kirby v Sanderson Motors Pty Limited [2002] NSWCA 44; (2001) 54 NSWLR 135 R v Reardon [2002] NSWCCA 203 Regina v Le [2002] NSWCA 186 Stanoevski v R [2001] HCA 4; (2001) 202 CLR 115