Golden v Littleproud [2019] NSWSC 120

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Golden v Littleproud [2019] NSWSC 120 Hearing dates: 11 February 2019 Date of orders: 22 February 2019 Decision date: 22 February 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison AsJ Decision: The Court orders that: (1) These proceedings are dismissed. (2) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs on an ordinary basis. Catchwords: PROCEDURE – summary judgment – pleadings – defective pleadings – abuse of process – whether pleadings are frivolous or vexatious – whether pleadings are an embarrassment – whether pleadings disclose a reasonable cause of action

TORT – misfeasance in public office – Commonwealth Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources – whether allegations of fact capable of supporting the elements of the tort Legislation Cited: Racing Administration Act 1988 (NSW) Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 (NSW), s 4(1) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 13.4(1), 14.28, 15.3 Cases Cited: Banque Commerciale SA En Liquidation v Akhill Holdings Ltd [1990] HCA 11; (1990) 169 CLR 279 Frazer v SR7 Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 820 Golden v V'landys [2015] NSWSC 1709 Golden v V'landys [2016] NSWCA 300 Grass v Slattery [2018] FCA 1719 Gunns Ltd v Marr [2005] VSC 251 Hannon v Afro Pacific Capital Limited [2005] NSWSC 564 McGuirk v University of New South Wales [2009] NSWSC 1424 Moder v Commonwealth of Australia [2012] QCA 92 Northern Territory of Australia v Mengel (1995) 129 ALR 1 O'Brien v Bank of Western Australia Ltd [2013] NSWCA 71 O'Shane v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 315; (2013) 85 NSWLR 698 Shelton v National Roads and Motorists Association Ltd [2004] FCA 1393 Spencer v Commonwealth of Australia (2010) 241 CLR 118; [2010] HCA 28 State Bank of New South Wales Ltd v Stenhouse Ltd (1997) Aust Torts Rep 81-423 (64,077) Three Rivers District Council v Governor and Company of the Bank of England No 3 [2000] 3 All ER 1 Tomlinson v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 507 Texts Cited: M Aronson, "Appendix B – Misfeasance in Public Office", available at UK Law Commission, "Misconduct in Public Office" R P Balkin and J L R Davis, Law of Torts (5th ed, 2013, LexisNexis Butterworths T Cockburn and M Thomas, "Personal liability of public officers in the tort of misfeasance in public office" – Part 1 (2001) 9 Torts Law Journal 1 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Joseph Golden (Plaintiff) David Littleproud (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr S Nixon SC with Ms V Thomas