Tabcorp Holdings Limited v Fitzsimons & Ors [2007] NSWSC 836

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Tabcorp Holdings Limited v Fitzsimons & Ors [2007] NSWSC 836

HEARING DATE(S) : 18 July 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 3 August 2007

JUDGMENT OF : Harrison J

DECISION : Leave to appeal granted. Appeal allowed. The first defendant's prosecutions commenced in the Local Court on 3 January 2007 dismissed. The first defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs, including the costs of the Local Court proceedings.

CATCHWORDS : APPEAL from magistrate – whether defendant entitled to commence prosecution as a common informer – Criminal Procedure Act 1986, s 14 – whether right to institute prosecution or proceeding for alleged breach of Totalizator Act 1997, s 81(1)(c) expressly conferred by that Act on a specified person or class of persons - Supreme Court Act 1970, s 69 – whether more appropriate to bring appeal under Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001, s 53(3), than seek order in the nature of prerogative relief – interlocutory order – error of law – exercise of discretion to grant leave

Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 - ss 53(3), 65(1) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 - s 5F Criminal Procedure Act 1986 - s 14 LEGISLATION CITED : Judiciary Act 1903-1960 (Cth) - s 35(1)(a) Local Government Act 1919 - s 591 Supreme Court Act 1970 - s 69 Totalizator Act 1997 - ss 81, 102

ASIC v Farley (2001) 51 NSWLR 494 Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427 De Mestre v A D Hunter Pty Ltd (1952) 77 WN (NSW) 143 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v PM (2006) 67 NSWLR 46 Hall v Nominal Defendant (1966) 117 CLR 423 CASES CITED : Hill v King (1993) 31 NSWLR 654 Mantell v Molyneux [2006] NSWSC 955 Meagher v Stephenson (1993) 30 NSWLR 736 Parisienne Basket Shoes Pty Ltd v Whyte (1938) 59 CLR 369 R v Bozatsis (1997) 97 A Crim R 296 White v Phipps & Anor (1932) 32 SR (NSW) 448 Wilson v DPP [2002] NSWSC 935