Fletcher v Hamilton-Gibbs & another [2013] NSWSC 77

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Fletcher v Hamilton-Gibbs & another [2013] NSWSC 77 Hearing dates: 5-6 March 2013 Decision date: 14 March 2013 Before: Adamson J Decision: (1) Order that the proceedings be dismissed. (2) Unless an application is made in writing to my Associate within seven days of the date hereof for a different order, order the plaintiff to pay the defendants' costs of the proceedings, including the costs of the notices of motion. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE- summary dismissal of claim as abuse of process-prejudicial effect of delay-whether fair trial possible when evidence lost or unreliable by reason of effluxion of time

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE- summary dismissal of claim for want of due despatch Legislation Cited: - Limitation Act 1969, s 26, s 52 - Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 56, s 57, s 58 - Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 12.7, r 13.4, r 14.28 Cases Cited: - Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales [2006] HCA 27; 226 CLR 256 - Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor [1996] HCA 25; 186 CLR 541 - Dey v Victorian Railway Commissioners [1949] HCA 1; 78 CLR 62 - Fletcher v Besser & anor [2004] NSWCA 132 - Fletcher v Besser & Anor [2005] HCATrans 99 - Fletcher v Besser [2010] NSWCA 30 - Fletcher v Hamilton-Gibbs & ors [2002] NSWSC 899 - Fletcher v Hamilton-Gibbs & ors [2009] NSWSC 124 - General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1964] HCA 69; 112 CLR 125 - Hans Pet Constructions Pty Ltd v Cassar [2009] NSWCA 230 - Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 37; 156 CLR 522 - Newcastle City Council v Batistatos [2005] NSWCA 20 - Spellson v George [1992] NSWCA 254; 26 NSWLR 666 - State of New South Wales v Plaintiff A [2012] NSWCA 248 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Joanna Fletcher (Plaintiff/Respondent) Peter Hamilton-Gibbs (First Defendant/Applicant) Peter Durey (Second Defendant/Applicant) Representation: Counsel: J V Agius SC/C Dobraszczyk Plaintiff/Respondent) A C A Bridge SC (First Defendant/Applicant) D F Villa (Second Defendant/Applicant) Solicitors: Graham Billing & Co (Plaintiff/Respondent) DibbsBarker Lawyers (First Defendant/Applicant) Kennedys Lawyers (Second Defendant/Applicant) File Number(s): 92/28054 Publication restriction: Nil