Hastwell v Parmegiani

The appeal concerned an interlocutory decision in a dispute between Hastwell and Parmegiani. The Court of Appeal, constituted by Gleeson and Kirk JJA, granted leave to appeal, indicating the matter would proceed to further directions before the Registrar.

The central legal issues before the Court of Appeal involved the principles governing leave to appeal from interlocutory decisions, particularly where questions of public importance or novel issues arise. Additionally, the Court was required to consider the admissibility and weight of expert witness evidence, specifically a medicolegal report, and its relationship to the doctrine of witness immunity, including the proper test to be applied in this context.

The Court granted leave to appeal, acknowledging the significance of the issues raised. The matter was subsequently listed for directions, signalling the Court's intention to further consider the substantive legal questions presented by the appeal.