Clark v Robards [2016] NSWCA 187

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Clark v Robards [2016] NSWCA 187 Hearing dates: 21, 24 March 2016 Decision date: 09 August 2016 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Simpson JA at [13]; Emmett AJA at [14]. Decision: 1. The appeal be dismissed. 2. The appellant pay the costs of the appeal of Timothy Robards, Terrence Robards and the State of New South Wales. Catchwords: APPEAL – summary dismissal for want of due despatch – where considerable delay in proceedings due to appellant being involved in other proceedings – whether this delay should be taken into account – where appellant given substantial opportunity to produce a properly pleaded claim – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 12.7

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – claims for damages – failure to prosecute – claims struck out – whether satisfactory explanation justifying delay – relevance of criminal proceedings – difficulties flowing from incarceration - pleadings struck out – opportunity to replead – whether error in order striking out claims Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW),s 64(2) Crown Proceedings Act 1988 (NSW) Felons (Civil Proceedings) Act 1981 (NSW), s 4 Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 12.7, 13.4, 14.28 Cases Cited: Clark v Robards [2010] NSWSC 522 Clark v Robards [2015] NSWCA 140 Clark v State of New South Wales [2006] NSWSC 673 Clark v State of New South Wales [2012] NSWCA 139 Clark v State of New South Wales [2014] NSWSC 742 Clark v State of New South Wales [2014] NSWSC 801 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Peter Frederick Clark (Appellant) Timothy Neil Robards (First Respondent) Terrence Lloyd Robards (Second Respondent) State of New South Wales (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Self-represented (Appellant) M Heath / A Kaylinger (Amicus Curiae) P M Wass SC, A N Williams (Third Respondent)