State of New South Wales v Gillett [2012] NSWCA 83

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: State of New South Wales v Gillett [2012] NSWCA 83 Hearing dates: 1 December 2011 Decision date: 13 April 2012 Before: Beazley JA at [1]; McColl JA at [112]; Campbell JA at [113]; Young JA at [132]; Whealy JA at [133] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal; 2. Appeal dismissed; 3. The applicant/State to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. [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: CIVIL PROCEDURE - pleadings - whether State permitted to raise limitation defence - Limitation Act 1969, ss 50C and 50D

LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - negligence - date on which cause of action "discoverable by plaintiff" - whether plaintiff aware that injury "caused by fault of the defendant" - meaning of "fault" - whether Baker-Morrison v State of New South Wales correctly interpreted the meaning of "fault" for the purposes of the Limitation Act 1969, s 50D(1)(b) - cause of action not discoverable until plaintiff received advice that defendant legally liable for injury

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - Limitation Act 1969, s 50D - "fault" Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Civil Liability Amendment (Personal Responsibility) Act 2002 Civil Liability Amendment (Personal Responsibility) Bill 2002 Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967 Crimes Act 1900 Crown Proceedings Act 1988 Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 Interpretation Act 1987 Legal Profession Act 2004 Limitation Act 1969 Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vic) Police Act 1900 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: A v The State of New South Wales [2007] HCA 10; 230 CLR 500 Baker-Morrison v State of New South Wales [2009] NSWCA 35; 74 NSWLR 454 Bostik Australia Pty Ltd v Liddiard & Anor [2009] NSWCA 167 Cassis v Kalfus [2001] NSWCA 460 Clutha Developments Pty Ltd v Barry (1989) 18 NSWLR 86 Dedousis v Water Board [1994] HCA 57; 181 CLR 171 Do Carmo v Ford Excavations Pty Ltd [1984] HCA 17; 154 CLR 234 Drayton Coal Pty Limited v Drain (NSWCA, 22 August 1995, unreported) Frizelle v Bauer [2009] NSWCA 239 Gett v Tabet [2009] NSWCA 76; 254 ALR 504 Hawkins v Clayton t/as Clayton Utz & Co (1986) 5 NSWLR 109 Puglisi v Administrative Decisions Tribunal of New South Wales Appeal Panel [2001] NSWCA 298; (2001) 52 NSWLR 350 Pullen v Gutteridge Haskins & Davey Pty Ltd [1993] 1 VR 27 Segal t/as Segal Litton & Chilton v Fleming [2002] NSWCA 262 Sola Optical Australia Pty Ltd v Judith Ann Mills [1987] HCA 57; 163 CLR 628 Spandideas v Vellar [2008] VSC 198 Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia [1992] HCA 55; 175 CLR 514 Texts Cited: Review of the Law of Negligence Final Report, September 2002 Category: Principal judgment Parties: State of New South Wales (Applicant) Nathaniel Gillett (Respondent) Representation: P Menzies QC; B K Nolan (Applicant) Dr C Birch SC; M J Perry (Respondent) Crown Solicitor (Applicant) De Luca Leonard Solicitors (Respondent) File Number(s): 2008/289548 Decision under appeal Citation: Nathaniel Gillett v State of New South Wales Date of Decision: 2010-10-22 00:00:00 Before: Barr AJ File Number(s): 2008/289548