Williams v Hunter New England Local Health

The proceedings were brought by Williams against Hunter New England Local Health District, a statutory corporation. Williams sought damages for alleged negligence by the District in the treatment of his deceased wife. Hunter New England Local Health District sought to have the proceedings dismissed on the basis that the pleadings were defective. Hunter New England Local Health District subsequently filed an application to amend the pleadings to address the defects, which Williams opposed. The court was required to determine whether the application to amend should be granted, whether the application raised a point of principle, and whether the application should be granted.

The court noted that the application to amend the pleadings was not opposed on the basis of prejudice to the applicant. The court held that the application raised no point of principle. The court held that the application should be granted. The court ordered that the pleadings be amended as proposed by Hunter New England Local Health District.