Hamilton v State of New South Wales (No 13) [2016] NSWSC 1311

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hamilton v State of New South Wales (No 13) [2016] NSWSC 1311 Hearing dates: 4 – 8 August 2014; 9 – 20 February 2015; 12 June 2015; 6 July 2015 Date of orders: 16 September 2016 Decision date: 16 September 2016 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff against the defendant in the sum of $582,000 (2) The defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings. (3) Parties have liberty to apply for ancillary orders on short notice. Catchwords: TORTS – malicious prosecution – false imprisonment –battery – misfeasance in public office– whether arrest unlawful– where prosecutor at time unaware of nature of alleged offending moments earlier– where all charges against applicant withdrawn and dismissed

TORTS – Malicious prosecution – Whether prosecutor acted maliciously – Whether the sole or dominant purpose of the prosecutor was other than the proper invocation of the criminal law– whether prosecutor had reasonable or probable cause Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3B, 21, 53, 54 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 51,58,61 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), s 21A(2)(l) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140(2) Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), subss 99(2); 99(3) (a), (c), and (e); 99(4); ss 105, 201, 231 Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Passenger Transport Regulation 2007 (NSW), cll 112, 114 Cases Cited: A v State of New South Wales (2007) 230 CLR 500; [2007] HCA 10 Adams v Kennedy (2000) 49 NSWLR 78; [2000] NSWCA 152 Birchmeier v Council of the Municipality of Rockdale (1935) 51 WN (NSW) 201 Christie v Leachinsky [1947] AC 573; [1947] 1 All ER 567 Croucher v Cachia [2016] NSWCA 132 Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658; [1982] HCA 70 Farrington v Thompson [1959] VR 286 George v Rockett (1990) 170 CLR 104; [1990] HCA 26 Leotta v Public Transport Commission (NSW) (1976) 50 ALJR 66 Presidential Security Services Pty Ltd v Brilley (2008) 73 NSWLR 241; [2008] NSWCA 204 Sangha v Baxter [2007] NSWCA 264 Sharp v Biggs (1932) 48 CLR 81; [1932] HCA 54 Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562; [2001] HCA 59 State of New South Wales v Abed (2014) 246 A Crim R 549; [2014] NSWCA 419 State of New South Wales v Delly (2007) 70 NSWLR 129; [2007] NSWCA 303 State of New South Wales v Ibbett (2005) 65 NSWLR 168; [2005] NSWCA 445 State of New South Wales v McMaster [2015] NSWCA 228; 328 ALR 309 State of NSW v Radford (2010) 79 NSWLR 327; [2010] NSWCA 276 State of New South Wales v Williamson [2011] NSWCA 183 State of New South Wales v Zreika [2012] NSWCA 37 Watkins v State of Victoria (2010) 27 VR 543; [2010] VSCA 138 Williams v the Queen (1986) 161 CLR 278; [1986] HCA 88 Zecevic v Director of Public Prosecutions (Vic) (1987) 162 CLR 645 Texts Cited: John Fleming, Fleming's The Law of Torts, (9th ed 1998, LBC Information Services) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Thomas David Hamilton (Plaintiff) State of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: C Steirn SC with D Morgan (Plaintiff) P Bodor QC with SA Woods(Defendant)