Barakat v Goritsas (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 36

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Barakat v Goritsas (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 36 Hearing dates: 1 March 2012 Decision date: 09 March 2012 Before: Basten JA at 1; Young JA at 69; Sackville AJA at 70 Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) Applicants to pay the respondents' costs. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: EVIDENCE - appeal - application to adduce evidence to supplement transcript - discussion of Vakauta v Kelly (1988) 13 NSWLR 502 - whether court should receive evidence pursuant to Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A(7) - whether court should exercise discretion to reject admissible evidence tendered for the first time on appeal

PROCEDURE - civil - refusal to disqualify for apprehended bias - whether appellate court or court exercising supervisory jurisdiction should consider judgment of the court below on recusal application - whether exchanges between counsel and judge demonstrate that a fair-minded lay observer might hold the opinion that the judge might not determine issues fairly

WORDS AND PHRASES - "apprehension of bias" Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 16, 129 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), Pt 55 Cases Cited: British American Tobacco Australia Services Ltd v Laurie [2011] HCA 2; 242 CLR 283 Builders Licensing Board v Mahoney (1986) 5 NSWLR 96 Ebner v Official Trustee [2000] HCA 63; 205 CLR 337 Goktas v Government Insurance Office of NSW (1993) 31 NSWLR 684 Government Insurance Office of NSW v Fredrichberg (1967) 87 WN (Part 1) (NSW) 122 Government Insurance Office of NSW v Fredrichberg [1968] HCA 54; 118 CLR 403 Johnson v Johnson [2000] HCA 48; 201 CLR 488 Kirby v Centro (No2) (2008) 172 FCR 376 Michael Wilson & Partners v Nicholls [2011] HCA 48; 86 ALJR 14 Nicholls v Michael Wilson & Partners [2010] NSWCA 222 Nickelseekers Ltd v Vance [1985] 1 Qd R 266 Re Veron; Ex parte Law Society of New South Wales (1966) 84 WN (Part 1) (NSW) 136 RPS v The Queen [2000] HCA 3; 199 CLR 620 Vakauta v Kelly (1988) 13 NSWLR 502 Vakauta v Kelly [1989] HCA 44; 167 CLR 568 Webb v The Queen [1994] HCA 30; 181 CLR 41 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Tony Barakat, Russell Walter Keddie and Scott John Roulstone - Applicants Maria Goritsas - First Respondent Basil Goritsas - Second Respondent Stephen Paul Firth - Third Respondent Representation: Barristers: