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Rawlinson v Rice

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Full case name
  
Rawlinson v Rice

End date
  
March 19, 1997

Decided
  
19 March 1997

Rawlinson v Rice

Citation(s)
  
[1997] 2 NZLR 651, [1998] 1 NZLR 454

Judge(s) sitting
  
McKay, Barker and Tipping J

Ruling court
  
Court of Appeal of New Zealand

Rawlinson v Rice [1997] 2 NZLR 651, [1998] 1 NZLR 454 is a cited case in New Zealand regarding claims in tort for misfeasance in public office.

Contents

Background

District Court Judge Rice issued a non molestation order against Rawlinson, against his protestations that the law required for him to be living with the complainant, which he wasn't. Rawlinson was later proven right on court, and had the order quashed.

Rawlinson then sued the judge for misfeasance. At the time, whilst High Court judges had immunity for such conduct, District Court judges did not.

Held

The Court of Appeal sitting as a bench of five, said he was not legally barred from pursuing his claim.

Footnote: Section 119 of the District Court Act now extends immunity to District Court judges as well.

References

Rawlinson v Rice Wikipedia