Costello v State of NSW [2017] NSWDC 152

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Costello v State of NSW [2017] NSWDC 152 Hearing dates: 23, 24, 26, 27, 31 May; 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 June & 2 September 2016 [Close of submissions on 15 December 2016] Date of orders: 23 June 2017 Decision date: 23 June 2017 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Judge Levy SC Decision: 1. Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff, including general compensatory damages, aggravated damages, and exemplary damages, and interest on past damages, in the total sum of $70,549;

2. The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings on the ordinary basis unless otherwise ordered;

3. I will hear the parties on what amount, if any, should be added to the verdict and judgment on account of future funds management charges;

4. The exhibits may be returned;

5. Liberty to apply on 3 days' notice if further or other orders are required. Catchwords: TORT – intentional torts – actions of police officers – alleged wrongful arrest, assault, battery, false imprisonment following police attendance at a reported domestic violence incident – allegation that arresting officer "massaged" the facts – adequacy of police investigation; DAMAGES – assessment of general compensatory damages, including aggravated damages, exemplary damages and interest Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 100 Crimes Act 1900, s 61, s 117, s 195 Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007, s 27, s 89 Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), s 474.17 Crown Proceedings Act 1988, s 5 Essential Services Act 1988 Evidence Act 1995, s 126 Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibility) Act 2002, s 99(2), s 99(3), s 201, s 231 Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983, s 8 Police Act 1990, s 6 State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 6.12(8) Cases Cited: Adams v Kennedy [2000] NSWCA 152; (2000) 49 NSWLR 78 Azar v DPP [2014] NSWSC 132 Benn v State of New South Wales [2016] NSWCA 314 Blacktown City Council v Hocking [2008] NSWCA 144 Briginshaw v Briginshaw [11938] HCA 34; (1938) 60 CLR 336 Carr v Finance Corporation of Australia Ltd [No 1] [1981] HCA 20; (1981) 147 CLR 246 Castorina v The Chief Constable of Surrey [1988] EWCA Civ J0610-1 (1988 WL 622865) Christie v Leachinsky [1947] AC 547 Cubillo v Commonwealth [2000] FCA 1084 DPP v Mathews-Hunter [2014] NSWSC 843; (2014) 242 A Crim R 319 Darcy v State of NSW [2011] NSWCA 413 Dicianni v R; Pintabora v R [2015] NSWCCA 201 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Gray v Motor Accidents Commission [1998] HCA 70; (1998) 196 CLR 1 Hage-Ali v State of NSW [2009] NSWDC 266 Hussein v Chong Kook Kam [1970] AC 942 Hyder v Commonwealth [2012] NSWCA 336; (2012) 217 A Crim R 571 JB v The Queen [2012] NSWCCA 12; (2012) 83 NSWLR 153 Johnstone v State of New South Wales [2010] NSWCA 70 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Lyons v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire [1997] EWCA Civ J0424-7 MBP (SA) Pty Ltd v Gogic [1991] HCA 3; (1991) 171 CLR 657 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshutu [1999] HCA 21; (1999) 197 CLR 611 NSW v Ibbett [2006] HCA 57; (2006) 229 CLR 638 NSW v Landini [2010] NSWCA 157 NSW v Radford [2010] NSWCA 276 Nguyen v R [2008] NSWCCA 322 O'Hara v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary [1997] AC 286 R v Rondo [2001] NSWCCA 540 Radford v State of NSW [2010] NSWCA 276 Ruddock v Taylor [2005] HCA 48; (2005) 222 CLR 612 Spautz v Butterworths & Anor [1996] NSWSC 614 State of NSW v Abed [2014] NSWCA 419State of New south Wales v Beck; Commissioner of Police v Beck [2013] NSWCA 437 State of New South Wales v Delly [2007] NSWCA 303 State of NSW v Quirk [2012] NSWCA 216 State of New South Wales v Randall [2017] NSWCA 88 State of NSW v Riley [2003] NSWCA 208; (2008) 57 NSWLR 496 State of New South Wales v Robinson [2016] NSWCA 334 State of NSW v Zreika [2012] NSWCA 37 Treking v Cornell; Ex Parte Helton Bellbird Collieries Pty Ltd (1944) 69 CLR 407 Vaccaro v MLC Limited [2016] NSWDC 85 Williams v The Queen [1986] HCA 88; (1988) 161 CLR 278 Zaravinos v State of New South Wales [2004] NSWCA 320 Texts Cited: Furzer Crestani, Assessment Handbook, October 2016, pp 14 - 15 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rhani Jude Costello bht the NSW Trustee and Guardian (Plaintiff) State of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms C Smith (Plaintiff) Mr P Saidi and Ms C Goodhand (Defendant)