SU v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] NSWSC 241

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SU v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] NSWSC 241 Hearing dates: 5 March 2014 Decision date: 19 March 2014 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison AsJ Decision: The Court orders that: (1) The defendants' notice of motion filed 27 August 2013 is dismissed. (2) Costs are reserved. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - application for summary dismissal - whether statement of claim should be summarily dismissed or proceed to trial - arguable case demonstrated; TORTS - false imprisonment/unlawful detention - whether it is arguable that detention of persons under the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) in an adult correctional facility constitutes false imprisonment/unlawful detention where the minor persons are also detained as unlawful non-citizens under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) - whether it is arguable that being held under a different form of custody rather than another form of custody can constitute false imprisonment/unlawful detention Legislation Cited: Bail Act 1978 (NSW), ss 4, 6, 14, 15, 17, 20 Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), ss 3W, 23C, 23F Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 4, 72, 232, 233, 249, 250, 252, 252A Extradition (Foreign States) Act 1966 (Cth), ss 17, 18, 26 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), s 31A Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), s 99 Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) Act 1990 (NSW), ss 24, 27 Migration Act 1958 (Cth), ss 5, 189, 196, 233C, 250 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 13.4, 14.28 Cases Cited: Christie v Leachinsky [1947] AC 573 DPP v Carr [2002] NSWSC 194; (2002) 127 A Crim R 151 Johnstone v State of New South Wales [2010] NSWCA 70; (2010) 202 A Crim R 422 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v VFAD [2002] FCAFC 390; (2002) 125 FCR 249 O'Brien v Bank of Western Australia Ltd [2013] NSWCA 71 Re Esperalta [1987] VR 236 Ruddock v Taylor [2005] HCA 48; (2005) 222 CLR 612 Spencer v Commonwealth [2010] HCA 28; (2010) 241 CLR 118 State of New South Wales v Radford [2010] NSWCA 276; (2010) 79 NSWLR 327 State of New South Wales v TD [2013] NSWCA 32; (2013) 83 NSWLR 566 State of New South Wales v Williamson [2011] NSWCA 183 Texts Cited: Carolyn Sappideen and Prue Vines, Fleming's Law of Torts (10th ed 2011, Lawbook Co) Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: SU bhnf BA (First Plaintiff) BS bhnf BA (Second Plaintiff) Commonwealth of Australia (First Defendant) Stephen Michael Vasquez (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P Strickland SC/A Canceri (Plaintiffs) P Semmler QC/A Berger (Defendants) Solicitors: O'Brien Solicitors (Plaintiffs) Australian Government Solicitor (Defendants) File Number(s): 2012/283102 Publication restriction: Nil