Balven v Thurston [2013] NSWSC 210

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Balven v Thurston [2013] NSWSC 210 Hearing dates: 3 December 2012 Decision date: 20 March 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Latham J Decision: (1) The judgment of the magistrate of 26 October 2011 on the liability of the plaintiff for assault is set aside. (2) The judgment and order of the magistrate of 13 April 2012 is set aside. (3) The matter is remitted to the magistrate for determination of an award of damages for trespass in accordance with these reasons Catchwords: APPEAL - error of law - tort of assault in relation to a threat must be framed by reference to objective terms not subjective apprehension of threat - Civil Liability Act not applicable to circumstances of assault allegations - appeal partially successful Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Local Court Act 1982 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321; Australian Gaslight Co v Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139; Carr v Neill [1999] NSWSC 1263; Entick v Carrington (1765) 19.St.Tr.1029 Gangemi Holdings Pty Ltd v Salter [1999] NSWSC 1004; Haines v Leves & Anor.(1987) 8 NSWLR 442; Knight v The Queen (1988) 35 A Crim R 314; Mahony v Industrial Registrar of New South Wales & Anor. (1986) 8 NSWLR 1; Plenty v Dillon (1990-1991) 171CLR 635 Poricanin v Australian Consolidated Industries Ltd [1979] 2 NSWLR 419; Slaveski v State of Victoria & Ors. [2010] VSC 441 State of NSW v Ibbett [2005] NSWCA 445 State Rail Authority v Smith [2000] NSWSC 334; Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lothar Christian Balven - (Plaintiff) Susan Marie Thurston - (Defendant) Representation: Counsel R de Meyrick - (Plaintiff) R Bell - (Defendant) Solicitors CBD Law - (Plaintiff) Kelso's The Law Firm - (Defendant) File Number(s): 2012/155030