Lucire v Parmegiani & Anor [2012] NSWCA 86

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Lucire v Parmegiani & Anor [2012] NSWCA 86 Hearing dates: 22.08.11, 16.11.11 Decision date: 20 April 2012 Before: Bathurst CJ at 1 Allsop P at 2 Beazley JA at 3 Nicholas J at 4 McCallum J at 55 Decision: [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: DEFAMATION - absolute privilege - letter of complaint to the New South Wales Medical Board - whether letter published on an occasion of common law or statutory absolute privilege - whether publication made by the making of a complaint is a publication for the purpose of assessment or referral of a complaint - whether letter originated absolutely privileged proceedings of the Medical Tribunal Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 Fair Trading Act 1987 Health Care Complaints Act 1993 Medical Practice Act 1992 (repealed) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Gibbons v Duffell [1932] HCA 26; (1932) 47 CLR 520; Mann v O'Neill [1997] HCA 28; (1996-1997) 191 CLR 204 Rajski v Carson (1988) 15 NSWLR 84 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dr Yolande Lucire - appellant Dr Julian Parmegiani - first respondent Medical Council of NSW - second respondent Representation: Counsel: G O'L Reynolds SC/S Burchett - applicant B R McClintock SC/A T S Dawson - first respondent K P Smark SC/S T Chrysanthou - second respondent Solicitors: Levitt Robinson - applicant Holman Webb - first respondent Crown Solicitor's Office - second respondent File Number(s): 10/159275 Publication restriction: Decision under appeal Citation: [2010] NSWDC 115 Date of Decision: 2010-05-28 00:00:00 Before: Gibson DCJ File Number(s): 10/159275