A father of two who was jailed for contempt of court by federal judge Salvatore Vasta during a divorce case has been awarded $309,450 in damages – the first time a judge has been successfully sued in Australia.
Justice Michael Wigney of the Federal Court ruled on Wednesday that liability for the “gross miscarriage of justice” should be shared by Judge Vasta, the Commonwealth and Queensland.
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Michael Pelly is the legal editor, based in our Sydney newsroom. He has been a senior adviser to federal and state attorneys-general and written two books, one a biography of former High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson. Email Michael at michael.pelly@afr.com
