Permanent Custodians Ltd v Geagea [2013] NSWSC 693

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Permanent Custodians Ltd v Geagea [2013] NSWSC 693 Hearing dates: 8 May 2013 Decision date: 03 June 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: Question of apprehended bias answered in negative Catchwords: COURTS AND JUDGES - bias - disqualification - apprehended bias - whether prior professional relationship between judge as chair of board of school and a chair of another school over 13 years before will disqualify judge from hearing matter in which person is a party - question answered in negative Cases Cited: Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] HCA 63; (2000) 205 CLR 337 Johnson v Johnson [2000] HCA 48; (2000) 201 CLR 488 Livesey v New South Wales Bar Association [1983] HCA 17; (1983) 151 CLR 288 R v Australian Stevedoring Industry Board; Ex parte Melbourne Stevedoring Co Pty Ltd [1953] HCA 22; (1953) 88 CLR 100 R v Watson; ex parte Armstrong [1976] HCA 39; (1976) 136 CLR 248 Re JRL; ex parte CJL [1986] HCA 39; (1986) 161 CLR 342 Re Polites; ex parte Hoyts Corporation Pty Ltd (No 2) [1991] HCA 31; (1991) 173 CLR 78. S & M Motor Repairs v Caltex Oil (1988) 12 NSWLR 358 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Permanent Custodians Limited (Plaintiff) Tony Geagea (First Defendant) Charbel Geagea (Second Defendant) David Geagea (Third Defendant) Phillip Howard Symonds (also known as Philip Howard Symonds) (Fourth Defendant) Christopher James Swanson (Fifth Defendant) Terence Edmund Ledlin (Sixth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Docker (Plaintiff) No Appearance (First Defendant) Robinson (Second and Third Defendants) Downing (Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Defendants) Solicitors: Kemp Strang (Plaintiff) No Appearance (First Defendant) Robinson Levitt (Second and Third Defendants) HWL Ebsworth (Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Defendants) File Number(s): 2005/269110 Publication restriction: None