Bott v Carter [2012] NSWCA 89

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Bott v Carter [2012] NSWCA 89 Hearing dates: 16 February 2012 Decision date: 17 April 2012 Before: McColl JA at 1; Basten JA at 2; Whealy JA at 47 Decision: (1) Direct that the amended statement of claim prepared for the hearing of the appeal should be marked for identification "A" and placed on the Court file. (2) Dismiss the appeal from the judgment of Hislop J in the Common Law Division delivered on 2 April 2009. (3) Order the applicant to pay the respondents' costs of the proceedings in this Court. [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: LAWYERS - negligence - advocates' immunity - allegations of negligent conduct of District Court proceedings - loss of compensation and opportunities - basis for immunity in finality of judicial determination - discussion of D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12; 223 CLR 1 - whether loss of opportunity to respond to the possibility of an offer of settlement falls outside the scope of the immunity

PROCEDURE - civil - pleadings - application to dismiss the proceedings generally - whether no reasonable cause of action is disclosed - whether there is a real question to be tried - interaction of requirement that court facilitate the just, quick and cheap resolution of the real issues with the approach in General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1964] HCA 69, 112 CLR 125 - whether requirement limits the circumstances in which the court might be inclined to refuse relief on discretionary grounds - Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56; Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 13.4 Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 420 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 13.4 Cases Cited: Arthur J S Hall & Co v Simons [2002] 1 AC 615 Attard v James Legal Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 311 Berry v British Transport Commission [1962] 1 QB 306 Bott v Carter [2010] NSWCA 21 Bott v Suttons Motors Australia Pty Ltd [2007] HCA Trans 576 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1964] HCA 69; 112 CLR 125 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12; 223 CLR 1 General Steel: Commonwealth v Griffiths [2007] NSWCA 370 Giannarelli v Wraith [1988] HCA 52; 165 CLR 543 Gray v Sirtex Medical Limited [2011] FCAFC 40; 193 FCR 1 Lai v Chamberlains [2003] 2 NZLR 374 Lai v Chamberlains [2006] NZSC 70; [2007] 2 NZLR 7 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu [1999] HCA 21; 197 CLR 611 Rondel v Worsley [1969] 1 AC 191 Saif Ali v Sydney Mitchell & Co [1980] AC 198 Sun Zhan Qui v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (FCA, 6 May 1997, unrep) Weiss v The Queen [2005] HCA 81; 224 CLR 300 Category: Principal judgment Parties: David Charles Bott - Appellant Trevor John Carter - First Respondent Clive Andreas Evatt - Second Respondent Representation: Counsel: