Dickens v State of New South Wales & Ors [2017] NSWSC 1173

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Dickens v State of New South Wales & Ors [2017] NSWSC 1173 Hearing dates: 9 August 2017 Date of orders: 05 September 2017 Decision date: 05 September 2017 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Fagan J Decision: Proceedings dismissed as against second and third defendants as disclosing no cause of action. Statement of claim dismissed as against first defendant with leave to re-plead, subject to limitations. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – pleadings – application to strike out statement of claim – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 14.28 – form of pleading embarrassing and prejudicial to defendant – leave granted to re-plead.

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – summary dismissal – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 13.4 – no maintainable cause of action disclosed – collateral attack on judgement and orders of the Family Court.

TORTS – intentional tort – Wilkinson v Downton – alleged mental and emotional harm arising from making and enforcement of Family Court orders – whether defendants liable for procuring Family Court orders – collateral attack on Family Court orders not permissible – advocate's immunity – no recognised psychiatric illness Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attwells v Jackson Lalic Lawyers [2016] HCA 16 Bunyan v Jordan (1937) 57 CLR 1 Bynoe v. Bank of England [1902] 1 KB 467 Cabassi v Vila (1940) 64 CLR 130; [1940] HCA 41 Cachia v Westpac Financial Services Ltd [2005] NSWCA 239 Clavel v Savage [2013] NSWSC 775 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid (2005) 223 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 12 Giller v Procopets (2008) 24 VR1; [2008] VSCA 236 IEL Finance Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2010] FCA 898 Janvier v Sweeney [1919] 2 KB 316 Kirby v Sanderson Motors Pty Ltd (2001) 54 NSWLR 135; [2002] NSWCA 44 Magill v Magill (2006) 226 CLR 551; [2006] HCA 51 Markisic v Department of Community Services of New South Wales [2005] NSWSC 1373 Markisic v Department of Community Services of New South Wales (No 2) [2006] NSWCA 321 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Naidu (2007) 71 NSWLR 471; [2007] NSWCA 377 Rippon v Chilcotin Pty Ltd (2001) 53 NSWLR 198; [2001] NSWCA 142 Stevens v Rowe (1880) 47 Am Rep 231 Tame v New South Wales (2002) 211 CLR 317; [2002] HCA 35 Wainwright v Home Office [2004] 2 AC 406 Wilkinson v Downton [1897] 2 QB 57 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr Dickens (plaintiff) State of New South Wales (first defendant) Nicola Mary Adams (second defendant) Paddy James Moylan (third defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr Dickens (plaintiff, in person) Mr Edward Anderson (first defendant) Mr David Lloyd (second defendant) Mr Bruce McClintock SC/Mr Patrick Meagher (third defendant)