Hamilton v State of New South Wales [2016] NSWSC 1213

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hamilton v State of New South Wales [2016] NSWSC 1213 Hearing dates: 19 July 2016 Date of orders: 31 August 2016 Decision date: 31 August 2016 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Beech-Jones J Decision: (1) The Plaintiff's notice of motion filed 28 October 2015 be dismissed; and

(2) The Plaintiff pay 75% of the Director of Public Prosecution's costs of the notice of motion filed 28 October 2015. Catchwords: APPEAL – decision of Associate Judge – client legal privilege – State said to be liable for alleged misfeasance in public office of police officers – officers investigated and charged plaintiff's partner – partner committed suicide – subpoena to Director of Public Prosecutions – privilege claim by DPP – whether communication between DPP solicitor and police officer was confidential – whether privilege waived by provision of documents by DPP to Crown Solicitor – whether error in finding DPP retained Crown Solicitor – whether common interest between DPP and state – whether conduct of DPP inconsistent with maintenance of privilege Legislation Cited: Crown Prosecutors Act 1986 (NSW) Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 (NSW) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Police Act 1900 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attorney-General (NT) v Kearney [1985] HCA 60; (1985) 158 CLR 500 Aouad v R; El-Zayet v R [2013] NSWSC 760 Ampolex Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1995) 37 NSWLR 405 Baker v Campbell [1983] HCA 39; (1983) 153 CLR 52 Bank of Nova Scotia v Hellenic Mutual War Risks Association (Bermuda) Ltd [1992] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 540 Bulk Materials (Coal Handling) Services Pty Ltd v Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd (1998) 13 NSWLR 689 Carbotech-Australia Pty Ltd v Yates [2008] NSWSC 540 Coulton v Holcombe [1986] HCA 33; (1986) 162 CLR 1 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Ahern (No 2) (1988) 2 Qd R 158 at 163 Hamilton v State of New South Wales [2015] NSWSC 1430 Hansfield Developments v Irish Asphalt Ltd [2009] IEHC 420 Komatsu Marketing Support Australia Pty Ltd v Marsh Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 163 Liu v The Age Company & Ors [2010] NSWSC 1176 New South Wales Crime Commission v Vu [2009] NSWCA 349 Mann v Carnell [1999] HCA 66; (1999) 201 CLR 1 Marshall v Prescott (No 4) [2012] NSWSC 992 Marshall v Prescott [2013] NSWCA 152 Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust v Allen Allen & Hemsley (22 March 1996, 13 Tolley's "Professional Negligence", 64) Network Ten Ltd v Capital Television Holdings Ltd (1995) 36 NSWLR 275 Proctor Gamble Australia Pty Ltd v Medical Research Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 183 R (Cth) v Petroulias (No 22) (2007) 176 A Crim R 309; [2007] NSWSC 692 R v Bell; Ex parte Lees [1980] HCA 26; (1980) 146 CLR 141 Rickard Constructions Pty Ltd v Rickard Hails Moretti Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 234 State of New South Wales v Jackson [2007] NSWCA 279 Wily v Terra Cresta Business Solutions Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 949 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Janice Rita Hamilton (Plaintiff/Appellant) Director of Public Prosecutions (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P J Brereton SC with A E Maroya and L Fernandez (Plaintiff/Appellant) P Saidi (DPP)