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[2015] NSWCA 379
Court of Appeal (NSW)
2015-11-20
Macfarlan JA, Meagher JA, Adamson J
Original judgment source is linked above.
Solicitors: Beazley Boorman Lawyers (Appellant) Banki Haddock Fiora Lawyers (Respondents) File Number(s): CA 2015/337676 Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Supreme Court Jurisdiction: Common Law Division Citation: [2015] NSWSC 1707 Date of Decision: 16 November 2015 Before: Adamson J File Number(s): SC 2011/409423
[Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.]
HEADNOTE [This headnote is not to be read as part of the judgment] On 20 November 2015 the Court of Appeal granted interim relief in relation to a decision of the Common Law Division of the Supreme Court to hear defamation proceedings without a jury after the primary judge held that the respondents (the defendants in those proceedings below) were entitled shortly before the commencement of the hearing to withdraw their earlier election under s 21(1) of the Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) to have the proceedings tried by jury. Section 21 of the Defamation Act provides that both parties to defamation proceedings may elect for the proceedings to be tried by jury and that such an election must be made in accordance with the relevant Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) ("UCPR"). In accordance with s 21, the defendants satisfied the pre-conditions in UCPR r 29.2A for an election for a jury trial by serving the relevant Notice of Intention and filing the relevant Notice of Election within the prescribed time limits. The plaintiff did not complete these steps or file a Notice of Motion seeking an order that the proceedings not be tried by jury. Held, allowing the appeal (per Macfarlan JA; Meagher JA, Tobias AJA agreeing): (1) The defendants were not entitled to withdraw their election under s 21 of the Defamation Act for the proceedings to be tried by a jury. The proceedings should therefore be tried by a jury unless, on the application of a party, the Court makes an order under s 21 dispensing with a jury ([18]). Kencian v Watney [2015] QCA 212, not followed. (2) There is nothing in s 21 or elsewhere in the Defamation Act to suggest that the legislature intended the word "elect" to be understood differently to how it is understood under the general law. An election for a jury trial should therefore be regarded as irrevocable ([20]-[25]). O'Connor v SP Bray Ltd (1936) 36 SR (NSW) 248; Immer (No 145) Pty Ltd v The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) [1993] HCA 27; 182 CLR 26; Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd [1974] HCA 40; 131 CLR 634, considered. (3) A trial judge has the power under UCPR r 1.12 to extend the time limits imposed by UCPR r 29.2A for a party to make an election for a jury trial ([49]-[51]).
Judgment
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
THE TRIAL JUDGE'S REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
ISSUES ON APPEAL
Whether an election for jury trial can be withdrawn
The Queensland Court of Appeal's decision in Kencian v Watney
Whether the trial judge had power to extend the time for the plaintiff to make an election for trial by jury
ORDERS
Amendments 03 December 2015 - Corrections to [19] and [22]. 09 December 2015 - Corrections to Coversheet and [37] DISCLAIMER - Every effort has been made to comply with suppression orders or statutory provisions prohibiting publication that may apply to this judgment or decision. The onus remains on any person using material in the judgment or decision to ensure that the intended use of that material does not breach any such order or provision. Further enquiries may be directed to the Registry of the Court or Tribunal in which it was generated. Decision last updated: 09 December 2015
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