Zhang v Hardas (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 432

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Zhang v Hardas (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 432 Hearing dates: 19-22, 26-27 February, 6 March 2018 Decision date: 13 April 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Leeming JA Decision: 1. Proceedings dismissed. 2. Plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs. 3. Any application to vary order 2 above to be made within 14 days either by providing consent orders to my Associate within 14 days, or alternatively by filing, serving and providing to my Associate a notice of motion, supporting affidavit and short written submissions within 14 days, with any evidence or submissions in response to be filed, served and supplied to my Associate within 14 days thereafter, with a view to any dispute being determined on the papers. 4. Exhibits to be returned to the parties. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE – whether chiropractor maltreated patient over 7 month period – whether chiropractor fabricated clinical notes – whether duty owed not to cause mental harm – whether defendant chiropractor practised a profession – whether defendant acted in a manner that was widely accepted by peer professional opinion as competent professional practice – whether breach of duty by defendant – whether defendant caused harm – whether limitation defence available – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5D, 5O and 32 considered and applied – proceedings dismissed Legislation Cited: 32 Hen VIII c 42 1540 (Eng) An Act for making the Surgeons of London and the Barbers of London two separate and distinct Corporations 18 Geo II c 15 1745 (UK) Chiropractic Act 1978 (NSW), ss 18, 23, 25 Chiropractors Act 2001 (NSW), ss 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 100 Chiropractors and Osteopaths Act 1991 (NSW), s 4 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5, 5B, 5D, 5E, 5O, 16, 27, 32 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140 Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), s 4 Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW), ss 7, 9 Health Practitioner Regulation (Adoption of National Law) Act 2009, s 2 Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW), s 123 Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), ss 50C, 50D, 60 Medical Practitioners Act 1938 (NSW), s 49 Physiotherapists Registration Act 1945 (NSW), s 26 Public Health Act 1991 (NSW), s 10AC Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 31 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 14.27, 36.16 Cases Cited: Baker-Morrison v State of New South Wales (2009) 74 NSWLR 454; [2009] NSWCA 35 Bolitho v City and Hackney Health Authority [1998] AC 232 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Camden v McKenzie [2008] 1 Qd R 39; [2007] QCA 136 Crystal Wall Pty Ltd v Pham [2005] NSWCA 449 Dobler v Halverson (2007) 70 NSWLR 151; [2007] NSWCA 335 Gilmour v Coats [1949] AC 426 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Ltd v Arsic (2006) 66 NSWLR 186; [2006] NSWCA 187 Hall v State of New South Wales [2014] NSWCA 154 HCCC v Eather (No 1) [2011] NSWCHT 1 HCCC v Peatling [2010] NSWCHT 1 Linter Group Ltd v Price Waterhouse [1999] VSC 245 March v Stramare (E and M H) Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506; [1991] HCA 12 Naxakis v Western General Hospital (1999) 197 CLR 269; [1999] HCA 22 Neal v CSR Ltd [1990] WASC 529; [1990] Aust Torts Rep 81-052 Optus Administration Pty Ltd v Wright (By his tutor) (2017) 94 NSWLR 229; [2017] NSWCA 21 Prestia v Aknar (1996) 40 NSWLR 165 Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479; [1992] HCA 58 Societe d'Avances Commerciales (Societe Anonyme Egyptienne) v Merchants' Marine Insurance Co (The "Palitana") (1924) 20 LIoyds LR 140 South Western Sydney Local Health District v Gould [2018] NSWCA 69 State of New South Wales v Gillett [2012] NSWCA 83 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Wilson v Nilepac Pty Ltd t/as Vision Personal Training (Crows Nest) [2011] NSWCA 63 Zhang v Hardas [2017] NSWSC 876 Zhang v Hardas [2018] NSWSC 219 Texts Cited: J S Anderson, Lawyers and the Makings of English Land Law 1832-1940 (Clarendon Press Oxford, 1992) C Cross and K Richards, "The 'ACA effect': Examining how current affairs programs shape victim understandings and responses to online fraud" (2015) 27(2) Current Issues in Criminal Justice 163 O Dixon, Jesting Pilate (2nd Ed, William S Hein & Co, 1997) P Handford, Tort Liability for Mental Harm (3rd ed, Lawbook Co, 2017) J Jackson, Professions and Professionalization: Volume 3, Sociological Studies (Cambridge University Press, 1970) M Keet, H Heavin and S Sparrow, "Anticipating and Managing the Psychological Cost of Litigation" (2017) 34 Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice 73 H Luntz, Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury and Death (4th ed 2002) H Perkin, The Rise of Professional Society (Routledge,1989) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Yingjie Zhang (Plaintiff) George Hardas (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: C T Barry QC, E Grotte (Plaintiff) M Fordham SC, C P O'Neill (Defendant)