White v Johnston [2015] NSWCA 18

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: White v Johnston [2015] NSWCA 18 Hearing dates: 19 December 2014 Decision date: 18 February 2015 Before: Barrett JA at [1]; Emmett JA at [5]; Leeming JA at [20] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed.

2. Set aside the judgment and orders of the District Court dated 31 July 2013.

3. Remit the proceedings to the District Court for retrial, confined to the claim in negligence.

4. Order that Ms Johnston pay Ms White's costs of the appeal.

5. Grant a certificate under the Suitor's Fund Act 1951 (NSW) to Ms Johnston in respect of the costs of the appeal. Catchwords: ASSAULT AND BATTERY - dental treatment - whether patient's consent invalid because sole purpose was non-therapeutic - whether onus lay on patient or practitioner - whether absence of consent of the gist of assault and battery

DAMAGES - exemplary damages - whether Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 3B applied - requirement to determine compensatory damages before considering whether to order exemplary damages - whether other decisions comparable

EVIDENCE - tendency evidence - whether evidence of other malpractice by practitioner wrongly admitted - whether evidence able to be used for purpose different from that for which it was tendered - whether evidence of malpractice significantly probative of performing work with no therapeutic purpose

MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS - consent to treatment - whether consent to dental treatment invalid because of wholly non-therapeutic purpose - onus of proof Legislation Cited: Common Law Procedure Act 1852 (UK), s 80 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3B, 21 Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), s 36 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 94, 95, 97, 100, 140, 192 Guardianship Act 1987 (NSW), s 37 Human Tissue Act 1983 (NSW), ss 19-20B Justices Act 1886 (Qld) Suitor's Fund Act 1951 (NSW) NSW Barristers' Rules, rr 60, 64 Cases Cited: Abrath v North Eastern Railway Co (1883) 11 QBD 440 Appleton v Garrett (1995) 34 BMLR 23; [1997] 8 Med LR 75 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd v Global Gaming Supplies Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 21; 87 ALJR 668 Ashley v Chief Constable of Sussex Police [2006] EWCA Civ 1085; [2007] 1 WLR 398 Astley v Austrust Ltd [1999] HCA 6; 197 CLR 1 Attorney-General (Vict) v The Commonwealth [1962] HCA 37; 107 CLR 529 Australian Financial Services and Leasing Pty Limited v Hills Industries Ltd [2014] HCA 14; 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(2004) 12 Torts Law Journal 39 D Villa, Annotated Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) (Lawbook Co, 2nd ed, 2013) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jasmin White (Appellant) Ruth Johnston (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Phillips (Appellant) M Thompson (Respondent)