Varmedja v Varmedja [2008] NSWCA 177

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Varmedja v Varmedja [2008] NSWCA 177

HEARING DATE(S): 17 June 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 8 August 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Hodgson JA at 1; Tobias JA at 2; McColl JA at 172

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs

CATCHWORDS: DAMAGES – Whether damages awarded were excessive – Whether primary judge erred in awarding aggravated and exemplary damages – Whether aggravated and exemplary damages were excessive - LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – Whether cause of action barred – Whether primary judge erred in extending limitation period pursuant to Limitation Act s 60C – Evidence of plaintiff and solicitor as to reasons for delay – Whether judge had proper regard to matters listed in s 60E - MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE – Failure of plaintiff to particularise allegations – Allegation of incompetence of trial counsel – Failure of trial counsel to ask that statement of claim be struck out as embarrassing – Absence of defendant from trial during evidence of plaintiff - TORTS – Physical and sexual assaults and batteries

Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Legal Profession Act 1987 (NSW) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW)

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; (1938) 60 CLR 336 Conray v Scotts Refrigerated Freightways Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 60 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Itek Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott [2002] NSWCA 104; (2001) 54 NSWLR 207 Lamb v Cotogno [1987] HCA 47; (1987) 164 CLR 1 CASES CITED: NSW v Ibbett [2006] HCA 57; (2006) 229 CLR 638 R v Birks (1990) 19 NSWLR 677 R v Ignjatic (1993) 68 A Crim R 333 State of NSW v Riley [2003] NSWCA 208; (2003) 57 NSWLR 496 Warren v Coombes [1979] HCA 9; (1979) 142 CLR 531 Whitfeld v De Lauret & Co Ltd [1920] HCA 75; (1920) 29 CLR 71