Evidence : Burden of proof

4 cases · July 2017 to August 2025

Case Volume by Year

1
17
3
25
2017–2025

Key Issues & Sub-Topics

Section 101 Evidence Act 1950 — Burden on plaintiff to prove facts in issue — Whether burden discharged on balance of probabilities — Documentary evidence versus oral evidence — Contemporaneous documents to be preferred over subsequent recollections — Whether oral evidence contradicting contemporaneous documents admissible — Hearsay evidence — Section 60(1) Evidence Act 1950 requirement for direct evidence — Whether witnesses had personal knowledge of facts — Whether testimony based on direct observation — Adverse inference — Section 114(g) Evidence Act 1950 — Whether failure to call material witness warrants adverse inference — Whether evidence withheld would have been unfavourable to withholding party 1 Balance of probabilities — Evidence Act s. 101. CIVIL PROCEDURE: Full trial — Declaration whether Defendants have the right to collect maintenance — Deed of Mutual Covenant — Duty in relation management of building — Claim dismissed. CIVIL PROCEDURE: Representative action — Rules of Court 2012 O. 15 r 12 — Requirement for representative action. 1 Shifting of evidential burden — Whether plaintiffs must prove case independently — Whether defendants required to assist in building case against themselves — Whether mere allegations in pleadings sufficient to establish possession of documents — Application of Evidence Act 1950 sections 101-103 1 Whether approach adopted by High Court and Court of Appeal was correct regarding the discharge of burden of proof by plaintiff seeking judgment in respect of matters of a technical nature — Whether plaintiff had proven its case on balance of probabilities against defendants Evidence : Expert evidence — Onus upon plaintiff to establish facts which by their nature demand expert evidence under s 45 Evidence Act 1950 — Whether open to court to hold said onus to have been discharged without plaintiff calling any expert evidence — Required standard of an expert witness — Whether fulfilled. 1

Section 101 Evidence Act 1950 — Burden on plaintiff to prove facts in issue — Whether burden discharged on balance of probabilities — Documentary evidence versus oral evidence — Contemporaneous documents to be preferred over subsequent recollections — Whether oral evidence contradicting contemporaneous documents admissible — Hearsay evidence — Section 60(1) Evidence Act 1950 requirement for direct evidence — Whether witnesses had personal knowledge of facts — Whether testimony based on direct observation — Adverse inference — Section 114(g) Evidence Act 1950 — Whether failure to call material witness warrants adverse inference — Whether evidence withheld would have been unfavourable to withholding party 1 case

Balance of probabilities — Evidence Act s. 101. CIVIL PROCEDURE: Full trial — Declaration whether Defendants have the right to collect maintenance — Deed of Mutual Covenant — Duty in relation management of building — Claim dismissed. CIVIL PROCEDURE: Representative action — Rules of Court 2012 O. 15 r 12 — Requirement for representative action. 1 case

Shifting of evidential burden — Whether plaintiffs must prove case independently — Whether defendants required to assist in building case against themselves — Whether mere allegations in pleadings sufficient to establish possession of documents — Application of Evidence Act 1950 sections 101-103 1 case

Whether approach adopted by High Court and Court of Appeal was correct regarding the discharge of burden of proof by plaintiff seeking judgment in respect of matters of a technical nature — Whether plaintiff had proven its case on balance of probabilities against defendants Evidence : Expert evidence — Onus upon plaintiff to establish facts which by their nature demand expert evidence under s 45 Evidence Act 1950 — Whether open to court to hold said onus to have been discharged without plaintiff calling any expert evidence — Required standard of an expert witness — Whether fulfilled. 1 case

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