Dean v Phung [2009] NSWSC 1333

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Dean v Phung [2009] NSWSC 1333

HEARING DATE(S) : 25 March 2009, 26 March 2009, 27 March 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 2 December 2009

JUDGMENT OF : Johnson J at 1

DECISION : See [7].

CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - claim by patient against dentist - negligent treatment - admission of liability

LEGISLATION CITED : Limitation Act 1969

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

CASES CITED : Dean v Phung [2009] NSWSC 201 Advanced Arbor Services Pty Ltd v Mark Phung [2009] NSWSC 1331

PARTIES : Todd Owen Dean (Plaintiff) Mark Phung (Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20571/08

COUNSEL : Mr D Hooke (Plaintiff) Mr D Nock SC; Mr A Hourigan (Defendant)

SOLICITORS : Beilby Poulden Costello (Plaintiff) Guild Legal Limited (Defendant)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES COMMON LAW DIVISION PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE LIST

Johnson J

2 December 2009

20571/08 Todd Owen Dean v Mark Phung

JUDGMENT 1 JOHNSON J: By Statement of Claim filed 18 December 2008, the Plaintiff, Todd Owen Dean, sues the Defendant, Mark Phung, a dental practitioner, for damages for professional negligence. 2 The Statement of Claim alleges that the Plaintiff suffered injuries to his teeth and jaw on 19 December 2001 when he was struck on the chin by a log in the course of his employment. It is alleged that the Plaintiff was referred to the Defendant for dental and related treatment and advice for the injury. On 16 January 2002, the Plaintiff first attended the Defendant's dental surgery and, until July 2003, the Defendant provided treatment to the Plaintiff. It is alleged that the Defendant's treatment of the Plaintiff was negligent and that the Plaintiff has suffered injury and loss as a result of that negligence. 3 On 11 March 2009, Hall J ordered that the issue of liability in these proceedings be tried at the same time as a related matter, Advanced Arbor Services Pty Ltd v Mark Phung (20006/08): Dean v Phung [2009] NSWSC 201. 4 On 25 March 2009, both matters came before me for hearing. This judgment should be read in conjunction with my judgment delivered today in Advanced Arbor Services Pty Ltd v Mark Phung [2009] NSWSC 1331. 5 At the hearing on 26 March 2009, senior counsel for the Defendant stated that he had "instructions to consent to a judgment in respect of liability" in this case (T98). By leave, the Defendant filed in Court an Amended Defence dated 26 March 2009 in this matter (T111). The effect of those amendments was that the Defendant admitted liability for negligence, but with an outstanding issue under the Limitation Act 1969. 6 In these circumstances, it was agreed by counsel for the Plaintiff and the Defendant that this matter should be listed for directions when judgment was handed down in the related proceedings (T112; T123). 7 Accordingly, I will list the proceedings for directions and for any application as to costs with respect to the hearing before me. **********