TB v State of New South Wales and Quinn; DC v State of New South Wales and Quinn [2015] NSWSC 575

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: TB v State of New South Wales and Quinn; DC v State of New South Wales and Quinn [2015] NSWSC 575 Hearing dates: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18; 19; 21 and 22 August 2014 Date of orders: 22 May 2015 Decision date: 22 May 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: In matter No. 2008/289325 DC v The State of New South Wales & Anor Judgment for the first and second defendants; The plaintiff to pay the first and second defendants' costs of and incidental to the proceedings on the usual basis forthwith after they have been agreed or assessed.

In matter No. 2008/289326 TB v The State of New South Wales & Anor Judgment for the first and second defendants; The plaintiff to pay the first and second defendants' costs of and incidental to the proceedings on the usual basis forthwith after they have been agreed or assessed. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – liability of statutory authority – where authority notified of child physical and sexual abuse – whether authority owed plaintiffs a duty under the law of negligence in exercise of its statutory powers

TORTS – negligence – breach of duty of care – failure of statutory authority to report child abuse to police – whether breach was a necessary condition of harm suffered by plaintiffs

TORTS – negligence – liability of social worker of statutory authority – where worker received the complaint made of child physical and sexual abuse – whether worker owed plaintiffs the same duty of care as the statutory authority – in circumstances where discretion of statutory power was conferred on Director Legislation Cited: Child Welfare Act 1939 (NSW); Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW); Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW); Crimes Act 1900 (NSW); Crown Proceedings Act 1988 (NSW); Evidence Act 1995 (NSW); Limitation Act 1969 (NSW); Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW). Cases Cited: Ashrafi Persian Trading Co Pty Ltd (t/as Roslyn Gardens Motor Inn & Anor) v Ashrafinia [2000] NSWCA 243; Aust Torts Reports 81-636; Astley v Austrust Ltd [1999] HCA 6; 197 CLR 1; B v Attorney General of New Zealand [2003] UKPC 61; 4 All ER 833; Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (1951) 217 ALR 1; Caledonian Collieries v Speirs [1957] HCA 14; 97 CLR 202; Caltex Refineries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Stavar [2009] NSWCA 258; 75 NSWLR 649; Craine v Australian Deposit and Mortgage Bank Limited [1912] HCA 60; 15 CLR 389; Curtis v Harden Shire Council [2014] NSWCA 314; 203 LGERA 352; 68 MVR 1; DC v New South Wales [2010] NSWCA 15; Edgecock v Minister for Child Welfare [1971] 1 NSWLR 751; Holloway v McFeeters [1956] HCA 25; 94 CLR 470; Hunter & New England Local Health District v McKenna; v Simon [2014] HCA 44; 89 ALJR 39; Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298; Lee v Carlton Crest Hotel (Sydney) Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 128; Luster Hosiery Ltd v York (1935) 54 CLR 134 M v The Queen [1994] HCA 63; 181 CLR 487; Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; 205 CLR 254; O'Reilly and Ors v Commissioners of the State Bank of Victoria (1982) 153 CLR 1; Pyrenees Shire Council v Day [1998] HCA 3; 192 CLR 330; SB v New South Wales [2004] VSC 513; Selsam Pty Ltd v Galeb [2005] NSWCA 208; 3 DDCR 1 Stuart v Kirkland-Veenstra [2009] HCA 15; 237 CLR 215; Sullivan v Moody [2001] HCA 59; 207 CLR 562; Sykes v Director of Public Prosecutions [1962] AC 528; TC v State of New South Wales [1999] NSWSC 31; Aust. Torts Report 81 – 500; Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; 223 CLR 422; Zraika v Walsh [2015] NSWSC 485 Category: Principal judgment Parties: TB (plaintiff); DC (plaintiff); State of New South Wales (first defendant) Caroline Quinn (second defendant) Representation: Counsel: Dr A S Morrison SC with Mr K Pryde and Mr N Morrissey for the plaintiffs. Ms P Wass SC with Mr I Harvey for the defendants.