Smith v State of Western Australia

Case [2002] FCA 1249


FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Day v Gould, in the matter of Gould [2002] FCA 1249

IN THE MATTER OF STEPHEN GOULD

JULIAN DAY & ANOR v STEPHEN GOULD
N 7025 of 2002

STONE J
1 OCTOBER 2002
SYDNEY

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY

N 7025 OF 2002

BETWEEN:

JULIAN DAY
FIRST APPLICANT

ALAN MANLY
SECOND APPLICANT

AND:

STEPHEN GOULD
RESPONDENT

JUDGE:

STONE J

DATE OF ORDER:

1 OCTOBER 2002

WHERE MADE:

SYDNEY

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

  1.        The notice of motion is dismissed with costs.

Note:   Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY

N 7025 OF 2002

BETWEEN:

JULIAN DAY
FIRST APPLICANT

ALAN MANLY
SECOND APPLICANT

AND:

STEPHEN GOULD
RESPONDENT

JUDGE:

STONE J

DATE:

1 OCTOBER 2002

PLACE:

SYDNEY

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

  1. I have before me a notice of motion by Mr Lars Sorhus, a recipient of a summons issued on the application of Julian Day and Alan Manly, creditors in the bankruptcy of Stephen Gould.  The notice of motion asks me to strike out the summons, filed on 5 June 2002, to attend for examination under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth).  I have listened to the submissions made by Mr Sorhus on his own behalf, and also those made on his behalf by Mr Gould. 

  2. It would seem that this issue has previously been considered by Madgwick J.  In a judgment dated 16 July 2002, his Honour considered a notice of motion filed by Mr Gould asking the Court to strike out summonses issued on a number of people, including Mr Sorhus; Day v Gould, in the matter of Gould [2002] FCA 936 at [4]. It is not entirely clear whether or not Mr Sorhus’ application is in fact the same as that which was before Madgwick J. However, as was the case before Madgwick J, there is no evidentiary material before me to suggest that the summons is oppressive or that it has been improperly issued. There has been nothing said in the submissions of Mr Sorhus, or Mr Gould, which has persuaded me that there is any deficiency with the summons.

  3. For these reasons the notice of motion is dismissed with costs.

I certify that the preceding three (3) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Stone.

Associate:

Dated:            10 October 2002

Counsel for the First and Second Applicant: The First and Second Applicant did not appear
Counsel for Mr Sorhus: Mr Sorhus appeared in person, assisted by the Respondent
Counsel for the Respondent: The Respondent appeared in person
Date of Hearing: 1 October 2002
Date of Judgment: 1 October 2002
Details
AGLC
Smith v State of Western Australia [2002] FCA 1249
Case
[2002] FCA 1249
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the case of Smith v State of Western Australia, the respondent, the State of Western Australia, sought an order for the dismissal of proceedings brought by the applicant, Smith, in the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Smith's claim arose from an alleged breach of privacy and misuse of confidential information by the State, which purportedly occurred during a period when Smith was employed by the State. Smith sought damages for breach of contract, breach of statutory duty, and for breach of privacy.

The court was required to determine whether Smith's claim was statute-barred, considering the provisions of the Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (WA). The central issue was whether the cause of action accrued on a specific date, thereby triggering the commencement of the limitation period, or if it was a continuing wrong that extended the limitation period.

The court found that the cause of action accrued on the date when the last instance of the alleged breach occurred. Given the timing of the proceedings, the claim was statute-barred. The court emphasised that even though the alleged breaches were part of a series of events, each incident constituted a separate cause of action that activated the limitation period. The court held that the claim was not saved by any statutory provisions extending the limitation period, such as the doctrine of continuing wrong, because there was no ongoing state of affairs that constituted a single cause of action.

Accordingly, the notice of motion was dismissed with costs.

Orders

Orders of the court

1.

The notice of motion is dismissed with costs.

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

STONE J

Full text does not contain this section.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Established by: STONE J

Full text does not contain this section.