Dijakovic v Perez [2015] NSWCA 174

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Dijakovic v Perez [2015] NSWCA 174 Hearing dates: 30 April 2015 Decision date: 29 June 2015 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [129]; McCallum J at [134] Decision: (1)Leave to appeal be granted. (2)The appeal be allowed. (3)The orders made by the District Court on 30 May 2014 be set aside. (4)In lieu thereof: (a)grant leave to the plaintiff pursuant to s 109 of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) to commence the proceedings; (b)the plaintiff's cost of the notice of motion filed 14 March 2014 be the plaintiff's costs in the proceedings. (5)The respondent to pay the applicant's/appellant's costs of the application for leave to appeal and the appeal. Catchwords: MOTOR ACCIDENTS COMPENSATION – failure to commence proceedings for damages within three years of accident – requirement of leave – Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), s 66(2) and s 109(3) – whether evidence established a "full and satisfactory" explanation for the delay – whether monetary threshold likely to be met – primary judge erred in concluding otherwise Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) s 43A Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) s 3, 60, 66, 82, 85A, 89A, 89C, 90, 91, 109 Cases Cited: 2 Elizabeth Bay Road Pty Ltd v The Owners – Strata Plan No 73943 [2014] NSWCA 409 Berowra Holdings Pty Ltd v Gordon [2006] HCA 32; 225 CLR 364 Brierley v Ellis [2014] NSWCA 230; 67 MVR 282 Chan v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs [1989] HCA 62; 169 CLR 379 Eades v Gunestepe [2012] NSWCA 204; 61 MVR 328 Harika v Tupaea [2003] NSWCA 332; 58 NSWLR 675 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Karambelas v Zaknic (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 433 Mancini v Thompson [2002] NSWCA 38 Russo v Aiello [2003] HCA 53; 215 CLR 643 Sinclair v Darwich [2010] NSWCA 195; 77 NSWLR 166 Walker v Howard [2009] NSWCA 408; 78 NSWLR 161 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mark Ivan John Dijakovic (Applicant) Alfonso Ricard Sarralde Perez (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Sheldon SC / E Welsh (Applicant) M A Cleary (Respondent)