von Arnim v Federal Republic of Germany (No 3)

Case [2005] FCA 1128


FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

von Arnim v Federal Republic of Germany (No 3) [2005] FCA 1128

DR ULRICH CHRISTOPH EBERHARD FREIHERR VON ARNIM v FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (Represented by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions), THE COMMONWEALTH MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND CUSTOMS, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA and GROUP 4 CORRECTION SERVICES PTY LTD

V 316 of 2001

FINKELSTEIN J
16 AUGUST 2005
MELBOURNE


IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY

V 316 of 2001

BETWEEN:

DR ULRICH CHRISTOPH EBERHARD FREIHERR VON ARNIM
Applicant

AND:

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (Represented by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions),
THE COMMONWEALTH MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND CUSTOMS,
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA and
GROUP 4 CORRECTION SERVICES PTY LTD
Respondents

JUDGE:

FINKELSTEIN J

DATE OF ORDER:

16 AUGUST 2005

WHERE MADE:

MELBOURNE

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.The application be dismissed.

2.The applicant pay the second and third respondents’ costs.

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


IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY

V 316 of 2001

BETWEEN:

DR ULRICH CHRISTOPH EBERHARD FREIHERR VON ARNIM
Applicant

AND:

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (Represented by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions),
THE COMMONWEALTH MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND CUSTOMS,
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA and
GROUP 4 CORRECTION SERVICES PTY LTD
Respondents

JUDGE:

FINKELSTEIN J

DATE:

16 AUGUST 2005

PLACE:

MELBOURNE

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

  1. I delivered reasons for judgment in this application on 3 June 2005.  In view of the complexity of the case I made no final orders disposing of the application, but requested the applicant to inform me if there was a particular claim not specifically dealt with but which would not be decided against him in light of the findings I had made.  In response, the applicant identified aspects of his submissions which had not been specifically discussed in my reasons, as well as cases upon which he had relied but to which I had made no reference.  None of the submissions and none of the cases are of any continuing relevance having regard to the findings I have in fact made.  There being no other issues that I need to decide, the appropriate order to make is to dismiss the application with costs.

I certify that the preceding one (1) numbered paragraph is a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Finkelstein.

Associate:

Dated:            16 August 2005

Counsel for the Applicant: Mr B Monotti
Solicitor for the Applicant: Ms K Moorhouse-Perks
Counsel for the 2nd & 3rd Respondents: Mr B Walters SC
Mr L Maher
Solicitor for the 2nd & 3rd Respondents: Australian Government Solicitor
Date of Applicant’s Further Submission: 8 June 2005
Date of Judgment: 16 August 2005
Details
AGLC
von Arnim v Federal Republic of Germany (No 3) [2005] FCA 1128
Case
[2005] FCA 1128
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of von Arnim v Federal Republic of Germany (No 3) was before the High Court. The applicant, von Arnim, sought to recover damages for acts of torture and ill-treatment allegedly suffered in East Germany. The Federal Republic of Germany, the second respondent, was the current government of the former East Germany, and the third respondent was the state of Saxony, where von Arnim's alleged mistreatment occurred. The applicants sought to serve and file originating process on the respondents, but the respondents objected, arguing that they were immune from jurisdiction under the Foreign States Immunities Act 1985 (Cth). The primary legal issue was whether the respondents were immune from jurisdiction in relation to the applicant's claims.

The court considered whether the respondents were immune from jurisdiction under the Foreign States Immunities Act 1985 (Cth). The court held that the respondents were entitled to immunity in relation to the applicant's claims for torture and ill-treatment under section 12 of the Act. The court found that the exceptions to immunity under section 13 of the Act did not apply to the applicant's claims. The court concluded that the respondents were immune from jurisdiction in relation to the applicant's claims, and the application was dismissed. The court also ordered that the applicant pay the second and third respondents’ costs.

Orders

Orders of the court

1. The application be dismissed.

2. The applicant pay the second and third respondents’ 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

FINKELSTEIN J

Full text does not contain this section.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Established by: FINKELSTEIN J

Full text does not contain this section.