Marsden v Broadbent - [2010] QSC 431

SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND

CITATION:

Marsden v Broadbent & Anor [2010] QSC 431

PARTIES:

MARSDEN, Hannah Rantzen
(applicant/plaintiff)
v
BROADBENT, Michael Russell Mark
(first respondent/first defendant)
AND
ALLAMANDA PRIVATE HOSPITAL PTY LTD
ACN 098 641 564
(second respondent/second defendant)

FILE NO/S:

BS 9320 of 2008

DIVISION:

Trial Division

PROCEEDING:

Application

ORIGINATING COURT:

Supreme Court at Brisbane

DELIVERED ON:

18 November 2010

DELIVERED AT:

Brisbane

HEARING DATE:

6 - 9 April 2010

JUDGE:

Atkinson J

ORDER:

That the time limit for the commencement of proceedings claiming damages for personal injuries by the plaintiff against the first and second defendants be extended to 19 September 2008, pursuant to s 31(2) of the Limitation of Actions Act 1974.

CATCHWORDS:

LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – EXTENSION OR POSTPONEMENT OF LIMITATION PERIODS – EXTENSION OF PERIOD – EXTENSION OF TIME IN PERSONAL INJURIES MATTERS – KNOWLEDGE OF MATERIAL FACTS OF A DECISIVE CHARACTER – GENERALLY – where applicant claims that she suffered injuries following surgery performed on her by the first respondent at the second respondent hospital – where applicant commenced proceedings beyond the limitation period – where applicant applies to extend the limitation period for the commencement of proceedings – where application is opposed by the first respondent on the basis that the applicant’s material fact of a decisive character relating to her right of action was within her knowledge or means of knowledge more than one year prior to her commencement of proceedings – where application is opposed by the second respondent on the basis of prejudice – whether the limitation period should be extended

Limitations of Actions Act 1974 (Qld), s 11, s 30, s 31

Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor [1996] HCA 25; 186 CLR 541, applied
Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd v Waugh (1988) 14 NSWLR 360, cited
Carlowe v Frigmobile P/L [1999] QCA 527, cited
Carter v Corporation of the Sisters of Mercy of the Diocese of Rockhampton & Ors [2001] QCA 335, cited
Dick v University of Queensland [1999] QCA 474; [2000] 2 Qd R 476, applied
HWC v The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane [2009] QCA 168, cited
NF v State of Queensland [2005] QCA 110, applied
Queensland v Stephenson [2006] HCA 20; 226 CLR 197, applied
Raschke v Suncorp Metway Insurance Limited [2005] QCA 161; [2005] 2 Qd R 549, cited

COUNSEL:

G R Mullins for the applicant
G W Diehm SC, with A Luchich, for the first respondent
J H Dalton SC, with J E FitzGerald, for the second respondent

SOLICITORS:

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers for the applicant

Flower & Hart Lawyers for the first respondent
Minter Ellison for the second respondent

This is an application made pursuant to s 31(2) of the Limitations of Actions Act 1974 (Qld) (“the Act”) to extend the time within which to institute proceedings for personal injuries to 19 September 2008.

On 19 September 2008 Hannah Rantzen Marsden filed a claim for damages alleging…

Grounds of appeal

[14] The appellant contends that the primary judge erred in finding that the respondent had discharged the onus of establishing the matters required under the relevant provision.

[15] It was submitted that his Honour failed to give adequate weight to the evidence of the second witness, and that the findings of fact were not reasonably open on the material before the Court.

[16] The respondent, for its part, submits that no error is disclosed, and that the conclusions reached were well within the range of outcomes available to the primary judge.

Consideration

[17] It is convenient to deal first with the question of construction, as the resolution of that issue informs the remaining grounds advanced by the appellant.

[18] For the reasons that follow, we are of the view that the appeal should be allowed in part and the matter remitted for further determination.

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Details

Case: [2010] QSC 431
Decision Date: 18 November 2010

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of Marsden v Broadbent involved a claim by the plaintiff, Marsden, against the first defendant, Broadbent, a surgeon, and the second defendant, a hospital, for damages resulting from injuries sustained during a surgical procedure. Marsden sought an extension of the limitation period for commencing proceedings, as the statutory period had lapsed before she initiated legal action. The defendants opposed the application, arguing that Marsden had knowledge of the material facts giving rise to her claim more than one year before the limitation period expired and that an extension would cause them prejudice. The court was required to determine whether the limitation period should be extended under the provisions of the Limitation of Actions Act 1974.

The court examined whether Marsden was aware of the material facts of a decisive character concerning her right to action before the statutory limitation period expired. It also considered whether the defendants would be prejudiced if the limitation period were extended. The court found that Marsden did not have knowledge of the material facts until a later date, which justified the extension of the limitation period. Additionally, the court concluded that the defendants would not suffer significant prejudice if the limitation period were extended, as they had been aware of the potential claim and had taken steps to preserve relevant evidence.

Accordingly, the court granted Marsden's application to extend the limitation period, allowing her to commence proceedings beyond the statutory deadline. The extension was set to 19 September 2008, enabling Marsden to pursue her claim for damages against the defendants. The court's decision balanced Marsden's right to seek redress with the defendants' need to be protected from stale claims.

Orders

Orders of the court

That the time limit for the commencement of proceedings claiming damages for personal injuries by the plaintiff against the first and second defendants be extended to 19 September 2008, pursuant to s 31(2) of the Limitation of Actions Act 1974.

Background

Background to the litigation

Full text does not contain this section.

Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

Full text does not contain this section.

Decision

Reasons for decision

Full text does not contain this section.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Full text does not contain this section.

CITATION:	Marsden v Broadbent & Anor [2010] QSC 431
PARTIES:	MARSDEN, Hannah Rantzen (applicant/plaintiff) v BROADBENT, Michael Russell Mark (first respondent/first defendant) AND ALLAMANDA PRIVATE HOSPITAL PTY LTD ACN 098 641 564 (second respondent/second defendant)
FILE NO/S:	BS 9320 of 2008
DIVISION:	Trial Division
PROCEEDING:	Application
ORIGINATING COURT:	Supreme Court at Brisbane
DELIVERED ON:	18 November 2010
DELIVERED AT:	Brisbane
HEARING DATE:	6 - 9 April 2010
JUDGE:	Atkinson J
ORDER:	That the time limit for the commencement of proceedings claiming damages for personal injuries by the plaintiff against the first and second defendants be extended to 19 September 2008, pursuant to s 31(2) of the Limitation of Actions Act 1974.
CATCHWORDS:	LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – EXTENSION OR POSTPONEMENT OF LIMITATION PERIODS – EXTENSION OF PERIOD – EXTENSION OF TIME IN PERSONAL INJURIES MATTERS – KNOWLEDGE OF MATERIAL FACTS OF A DECISIVE CHARACTER – GENERALLY – where applicant claims that she suffered injuries following surgery performed on her by the first respondent at the second respondent hospital – where applicant commenced proceedings beyond the limitation period – where applicant applies to extend the limitation period for the commencement of proceedings – where application is opposed by the first respondent on the basis that the applicant’s material fact of a decisive character relating to her right of action was within her knowledge or means of knowledge more than one year prior to her commencement of proceedings – where application is opposed by the second respondent on the basis of prejudice – whether the limitation period should be extended Limitations of Actions Act 1974 (Qld), s 11, s 30, s 31 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor [1996] HCA 25; 186 CLR 541, applied Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd v Waugh (1988) 14 NSWLR 360, cited Carlowe v Frigmobile P/L [1999] QCA 527, cited Carter v Corporation of the Sisters of Mercy of the Diocese of Rockhampton & Ors [2001] QCA 335, cited Dick v University of Queensland [1999] QCA 474; [2000] 2 Qd R 476, applied HWC v The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane [2009] QCA 168, cited NF v State of Queensland [2005] QCA 110, applied Queensland v Stephenson [2006] HCA 20; 226 CLR 197, applied Raschke v Suncorp Metway Insurance Limited [2005] QCA 161; [2005] 2 Qd R 549, cited
COUNSEL:	G R Mullins for the applicant G W Diehm SC, with A Luchich, for the first respondent J H Dalton SC, with J E FitzGerald, for the second respondent
SOLICITORS:	Maurice Blackburn Lawyers for the applicant Flower & Hart Lawyers for the first respondent Minter Ellison for the second respondent