Wells v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] NSWSC 148

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Wells v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] NSWSC 148 Hearing dates: 24 February 2014 Decision date: 28 February 2014 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson J Decision: (1) An order, pursuant to UCPR r 28.2, that the following question be heard and determined before the trial of the plaintiff's claim: "Ought the plaintiff be granted an extension of time (and if so, until when) pursuant to: (a) s 58(2) and/or s 60G(2) of the Limitation Act 1969 (NSW); and/or (b) s 48 of the Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA)?" (2) Costs reserved. Catchwords: LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - choice of law where the negligence is of the same character but took place in more than one jurisdiction - whether separate hearing appropriate for plaintiff's application for extension of time under the Limitations Act 1969 - just, quick and cheap resolution of the proceedings - whether separate hearing would result in significant overlap of issues and witnesses - where defendant proposes separate hearing and plaintiff opposes Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56, s 57, s 58, s 59 Limitation Act 1985 (ACT), s 36. Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), s 58(2), s 60G(2) Limitation Act 1981 (NT), s 44 Limitation Act 1953 (Malaysia) Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld), s 31 Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA), s 48 Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vic), s 23A Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Cth), s 44 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 28.2 Cases Cited: Australian National Industries Limited v Spedley Securities Limited (in liq) (1992) 26 NSWLR 441 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor [1996] HCA 25;(1996) 186 CLR 541 Dow Jones and Company Inc v Gutnick [2002] HCA 56; 210 CLR 575 Farah Constructions v Say-Dee Pty Limited [2007] HCA 22; 230 CLR 90 Georgiadis v Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation (1994) 179 CLR 297 Giles v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] NSWSC 83 Guthrie v Spence [2009] NSWCA 369; 78 NSWLR 225 Idoport Pty Limited v National Australia Bank Limited [2000] NSWSC 1215 James Hardie v Hall (1998) 43 NSWLR 554 John Pfeiffer Pty Limited v Rogerson [2000] HCA 36; 203 CLR 503 Johnson v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church [2009] NSWSC 309 Puttick v Tenon Limited [2008] HCA 54; 238 CLR 265 Robbins v The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc [2010] NSWSC 39 Sorrenti v Crown Corning Limited (1986) 7 NSWLR 77 State of New South Wales v Gillett [2012] NSWCA 83 Tepko Pty Limited v Water Board [2001] HCA 19; 206 CLR 1 Wardley Australia Limited v Western Australia [1992] HCA 55; 175 CLR 514 Yu v Spiers [2001] NSWCA 373 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Roy Francis Wells (Plaintiff) Commonwealth of Australia (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Hooke SC/K Andrews (Plaintiff) NJ Owens (Defendant) Solicitors: Wyatts Lawyers (Plaintiff) Corrs Chambers Westgarth (Defendant) File Number(s): 2013/147360 Publication restriction: Nil