Lule v State of New South Wales [2018] NSWCA 125

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Lule v State of New South Wales [2018] NSWCA 125 Hearing dates: 11 May 2018 Decision date: 15 June 2018 Before: Beazley P at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [6]; Barrett AJA at [109] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Set aside the orders made by Cowdroy ADCJ on 7 November 2017. (3) Judgment for Mr Lule against the State of New South Wales in the sum of $30,000. (4) Order the State of New South Wales to pay Mr Lule's costs of the proceedings at first instance and on appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – false imprisonment – whether arrest of appellant unlawful – whether there were reasonable grounds for the arresting police officer's suspicion that the appellant had committed an offence – whether victim's description of offender a reasonable ground for police officer's suspicion – Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), s 99(1) considered

DAMAGES – false arrest and false imprisonment – compensatory damages – appellant's experience was traumatic, humiliating, frightening and embarrassing – $30,000 awarded Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 357E Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), s 99 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101(2)(r) Cases Cited: Adams v Kennedy (2000) 49 NSWLR 78; [2000] NSWCA 152 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 33 George v Rockett (1990) 170 CLR 104; [1990] HCA 26 Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 196 CLR 1; [1998] HCA 70 Hyder v Commonwealth [2012] NSWCA 336; (2012) 217 A Crim R 571 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Lamb v Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR 1; [1987] HCA 47 Lyons v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire (CA (Civ D), 24 April 1997) McKinnon v Secretary, Department of Treasury (2006) 228 CLR 423; [2006] HCA 45 Mulvaney v Chief Constable of Cheshire (CA (Civ D), 8 March 1990) O'Hara v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary [1997] AC 286 Planet Fisheries Pty Ltd v La Rosa (1968) 119 CLR 118; [1968] HCA 62 Prior v Mole [2017] HCA 10; (2017) 91 ALJR 441 Queensland Bacon Pty Ltd v Rees (1966) 115 CLR 266; [1966] HCA 21 R v Rondo [2001] NSWCCA 540; (2001) 126 A Crim R 562; Ruddock v Taylor (2005) 222 CLR 612; [2005] HCA 48 State of New South Wales v Robinson (2016) 93 NSWLR 280; [2016] NSWCA 334 State of New South Wales v Smith [2017] NSWCA 194 State of New South Wales v Zreika [2012] NSWCA 37 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) [1985] HCA 28; (1985) 59 ALJR 481 Water Board v Moustakas (1988) 180 CLR 491; [1988] HCA 12 Zaravinos v State of New South Wales (2004) 62 NSWLR 58; [2004] NSWCA 320 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Musa Kanyanja Lule (Applicant) State of New South Wales (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C A Evatt / L Teoh / W Evatt (Applicant) M S Spartalis / G Mahony (Respondent)