Attalla v State of NSW [2018] NSWDC 190

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Attalla v State of NSW [2018] NSWDC 190 Hearing dates: 26, 27, 28 February; 1, 2, 23 March; 17 May 2018 Date of orders: 29 May 2018 Decision date: 29 May 2018 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: P Taylor SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $112,387.67. (2) Defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs. (3) Liberty to either party to make application to amend order (2), including to seek a special costs order, by notification by email to my associate within 14 days. Catchwords: TORTS – intentional tort - wrongful arrest – false imprisonment – assault and battery – strip search - police – reasonable grounds for suspicion – aggravated damages – exemplary damages Legislation Cited: Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002, s 21, s 24, s 31, s 32, s 99, s 230 Cases Cited: Adams v Kennedy (2000) 49 NSWLR 7 Coote v Kelly; Northam v Kelly [2016] NSWSC 1447 Day v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd (2005) 62 NSWLR 731 Goldie v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) [2004] FCA 156 Gray v Motor Accidents Commission (Gray v MAC) (1998) 196 CLR 1; [1998] HCA 70 Lamb v Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR 1; [1987] HCA 47 MBP (SA) Pty Ltd v Gogic (1991) 171 CLR 657 at 666; [1991] HCA 3 Moses v State of New South Wales (No. 3) [2010] NSWDC 243 New South Wales v Ibbett (2006) 229 CLR 638; [2006] HCA 57 New South Wales v Radford (2010) 79 NSWLR 327; [2010] NSWCA 276 New South Wales v Zreika [2012] NSWCA 37 Ruddock v Taylor (2003) 58 NSWLR 269 Shalhoub v State of New South Wales [2017] NSWDC 363 State of New South v Riley (2003) 57 NSWLR 496; [2003] NSWCA 208 State of New South Wales v Bouffler [2017] NSWCA 185 State of NSW v Abed [2014] NSWCA 419 State of NSW v Smith [2017] NSWCA 194 Streat v Bauer (Supreme Court (NSW), Smart J, 16 March 1998, unreported) Thompson; Hsu v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [1998] QB 498 Uren v John Fairfax (1966) 117 CLR 118; [1966] HCA 40 Walter Vignoli v Sydney Harbour Casino [1999] NSWSC 1113 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Watson v Marshall (1971) 124 CLR 621; [1971] HCA 33 Texts Cited: Fleming J, The Law of Torts, 8th ed, LBC (1992) Trindade and Cane, The Law of Torts in Australia, 3rd Edition, OUP (1999) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Steven Attalla (plaintiff) State of NSW (defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr D Toomey SC and Mr D Woodbury/Mr J Masur (plaintiff) Ms G F Mahony (defendant)