HD v State of New South Wales [2016] NSWCA 85

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: HD v State of New South Wales [2016] NSWCA 85 Hearing dates: 23 March 2016 Date of orders: 26 April 2016 Decision date: 26 April 2016 Before: Gleeson JA at [1] Leeming JA at [136] Emmett AJA at [137] Decision: 1. Summons dismissed with costs (CA2015/114853). 2. Extend the time for filing of the notice of appeal until 15 September 2015. 3. Appeal dismissed. 4. Appellant to pay the respondent's costs (CA 2015/270321). Catchwords: TORTS – malicious prosecution – where interim ADVO obtained by police against the father on behalf of daughter and followed by police prosecution of an assault charge against the father – identity of prosecutor – whether prosecutor acted without reasonable and probable cause – whether credit-based findings concerning the subjective belief of the prosecutor shown to be wrong on Fox v Percy test – whether prosecutor acted maliciously – whether prosecutor acted on improper purpose of instituting and maintaining prosecution of assault charge against the father to support the ADVO proceedings Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 59(1) Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007, s 41 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), Div 3, 4, Ch 6 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 38 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules, rr 42.1, 51.16(1), 51.22(2) Cases Cited: A v New South Wales [2007] HCA 10; 230 CLR 500 Adams v Kennedy (2000) 49 NSWLR 78 Beckett v State of New South Wales [2013] HCA 17; 248 CLR 432 Costa v The Public Trustee of NSW [2008] NSWCA 223 Lamb v Cotogno [1987] HCA 47; 164 CLR 1 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 George v Rocket [1990] HCA 26; 170 CLR 104 Houda v State of New South Wales [2005] NSWSC 1053 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298 Li v Deng (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 1245 State of New South Wales v Abed [2014] NSWCA 419 State of New South Wales v Landini [2010] NSWCA 157 State of New South Wales v Zreika [2012] NSWCA 37 Thomas v State of New South Wales [2008] NSWCA 316; 74 NSWLR 34 Wilson v Peisley (1975) 50 ALJR 207; 7 ALR 571 Texts Cited: John G Fleming, The Law of Torts (9th ed 1998, LBC Information Services) Category: Principal judgment Parties: HD (Appellant) State of New South Wales (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr PA Beale (Appellant) Mr HN Newton (Respondent)