Hammond v The State of New South Wales [2013] NSWSC 1930

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hammond v The State of New South Wales [2013] NSWSC 1930 Hearing dates: 16 December 2013 Decision date: 19 December 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson J Decision: (1) Order, pursuant to s 6(3) of the Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987 (Cth), that the proceedings be determined by this Court. (2) Dismiss the proceedings. (3) Order the plaintiffs to pay the defendants' costs of the proceedings and of the notices of motion, including any reserved costs. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE -application for summary dismissal -no arguable cause of action disclosed -abuse of process -constitutional writs impermissibly sought for review of determination of superior judicial court -impermissible collateral attack on final decisions

JURISDICTION -special federal matter - cross-vesting -special reasons for Supreme Court to determine proceedings

TORTS -no actionable duty of care owed by State or Commonwealth in respect of judicial decisions -'judicial oppression' not a tort known to law -Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 -no intention to derogate from judicial immunity or render Crown liable for conduct of judges in court Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth), s 6, s 9, s 9(1), s 9(1)(d) Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 13 Civil Procedure Regulation 2012, cl 4, cl 8, cl 11(1), sch 1 pt 1 Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (Cth), s 72, s 75(v) Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983, s 5, s 7, s 8, s 10,s 10(2) Judicial Officers Act 1986, s 44A, s 44B, s 44C Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 39B Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (Cth), s 3, s 4(1), s 4(1)(b), s 6(1), s6(3), s 6(4) Supreme Court Act 1970, s 46(4) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 13.4 Cases Cited: ASIC v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 1; 204 CLR 559 Attorney General v Bar-Mordecai [2005] NSWSC 142 Bar-Mordecai v Bryson and Ors [2002] NSWSC 815 Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee [1999] HCA 59; 200 CLR 1 D'orta-Ekenaike v Victorian Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12; 223 CLR 1 Fingleton v The Queen [2005] HCA 34; 227 CLR 166 Hopkins v Governor-General of Australia [2013] NSWCA 365 Northern Territory of Australia v Mengel [1995] HCA 65; 185 CLR 307 Potter v Minahan [1908] HCA 63; 7 CLR 277 R v Kirby; Ex parte Boilermakers' Society of Australia [1956] HCA 10; 94 CLR 254 Rajski v Powell (1987) 11 NSWLR 522 Rippon v Chilcotin Pty Limited [2001] NSWCA 142; 53 NSWLR 198 Scanlon v Director-General Department of the Arts Sport and Recreation [2007] NSWCA 204; 70 NSWLR 1 Sneddon v State of New South Wales [2012] NSWCA 351 Viro v The Queen [1978] HCA 9; 141 CLR 88 The King v Murray and Cormie; ex parte the Commonwealth [1916] HCA 58; 22 CLR 437 Towie v State of Victoria [2008] VSC 177; 19 VR 640 Walton v Gardiner [1993] HCA 77; 177 CLR 378 Wentworth v Wentworth [2001] NSWCA 350; 52 NSWLR 602 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Patrick Hammond (First Plaintiff) Tracie Lynn Hammond (Second Plaintiff) State of New South Wales (First Defendant) Commonwealth of Australia (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: In Person (First Plaintiff) G Sarginson (First Defendant) A Markus (solicitor advocate) (Second Defendant) Solicitors: Crown Solicitor's Office (First Defendant) Australian Government Solicitors (Second Defendant) File Number(s): 2013/259832 Publication restriction: None