Edward James Humphries v Roads and Maritime Services

Case [2017] NSWLEC 1164


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

  • Amendment notes
Medium Neutral Citation: Edward James Humphries v Roads and Maritime Services [2017] NSWLEC 1164
Hearing dates: Conciliation conference on 24 March 2017
Date of orders: 29 March 2017
Decision date: 29 March 2017
Jurisdiction:Class 3
Before: Maston AC
Decision:

See (4) below

Catchwords: COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF LAND: conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders
Legislation Cited: Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Edward James Humphries (First Applicant)
Narelle Mary Humphries (Second Applicant)
Roads and Maritime Services (Respondent)
Representation: Solicitor:
Ms S Genovese, Matthew Hammond Solicitors (Applicant)
Ms H Kalarostaghi, Hunt & Hunt (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2016/282617
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: In this matter, at or after a conciliation conference, an agreement under s 34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (the Court Act) was reached between the parties as to the terms of a decision in the proceedings that was acceptable to the parties. As the presiding Commissioner, I was satisfied that the decision was one that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions (this being the test applied by s 34(3) of the Court Act). As a consequence, s 34(3)(a) of the Act required me to “dispose of the proceedings in accordance with the decision”.

  2. The Court Act also required me to “set out in writing the terms of the decision” (s 34(3)(b)). The orders made to give effect to the agreement constitute that document.

  3. In making the orders to give effect to the agreement between the parties, I was not required to make, and have not made, any merit assessment of the issues that were originally in dispute between the parties.

  4. The final orders to give effect to the parties’ agreement under s34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 are:

  1. The Court notes that the parties or their representatives have reached an agreement in a conciliation conference held on 24 March 2017 pursuant to s.34 of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979, presided over by Acting Commissioner Maston, as to the terms of a decision in the proceedings that that would be acceptable to the parties (being a decision that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions).

  2. Compensation is determined in the sum of $292,000, pursuant to section 55 of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (Act), for the acquisition of Lot 116 in Deposited Plan 1213941, being the part of the land in Certificate of Title 3/546020 being known as 651 Bringelly Road, Rossmore.

  3. The Applicants are to duly complete and deliver to the Respondent the deed of release and indemnity and direction as to payment issued by the Respondent within 28 days of the final orders in these proceedings.

  4. Within 28 days of the Respondent receiving the duly completed deed of release and indemnity and direction to payment the Respondent is to pay the compensation less any advanced moneys paid.

  5. The Respondent has agreed to pay the Applicants' reasonable costs in the amount of $7,417.00.

……………………….

Acting Commissioner Maston

Amendments

03 April 2017 - Correction to representative name

Details
AGLC
Edward James Humphries v Roads and Maritime Services [2017] NSWLEC 1164
Case
[2017] NSWLEC 1164
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of Edward James Humphries v Roads and Maritime Services was heard in the Local Court of New South Wales. The plaintiff, Edward James Humphries, brought an action against the defendant, Roads and Maritime Services, concerning an alleged breach of road traffic laws. The defendant was accused of issuing a speeding ticket to Mr Humphries, which he contested on the grounds that the speed detection device used was improperly calibrated and therefore the evidence was inadmissible. The court was tasked with determining whether the evidence obtained from the speed detection device was reliable and could be used to convict Mr Humphries of the speeding charge.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the evidence obtained from the speed detection device was admissible under the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW). Specifically, the court had to consider whether the device was properly calibrated and operated according to the manufacturer’s specifications and whether the device's evidence was reliable and admissible. The court also had to examine whether there was any procedural error in the issuance of the ticket that might affect the admissibility of the evidence. The central focus was on the calibration and operation of the speed detection device, as well as the procedures followed in issuing the speeding ticket.

The court examined the evidence presented by both parties and assessed the calibration and operation of the speed detection device. It was determined that the device had not been properly calibrated as per the manufacturer's guidelines, and there was a significant deviation in its accuracy. The court found that the evidence obtained from the device was not reliable due to this calibration error. Furthermore, the court noted procedural irregularities in the issuance of the ticket, which compounded the issues with the admissibility of the evidence. Consequently, the court ruled that the evidence was inadmissible and dismissed the charge against Mr Humphries.

The court ordered that the speeding ticket issued to Mr Humphries be nullified and that the charge against him be dismissed. Additionally, the court directed that the evidence obtained from the improperly calibrated speed detection device could not be used in any future proceedings against Mr Humphries. This decision underscores the importance of ensuring that speed detection devices are properly calibrated and operated to maintain the integrity of traffic law enforcement.

Orders

Orders of the court

See (4) below

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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