My Caselaw
MY CASELAW (23/7/2025)
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(This is a list of most (but not all) of the caselaw that has come about as a consequence of Pastor Paul Robert Burton providing Pastoral support for a family who had their child forcibly and violently removed (with the authority of the then Secretary of FACS Michael Coutts-Trotter in person) on known false grounds and without delegated authority on the 19th May 2017.
From the Sentencing Judgment of Judge Harris 22nd Nov 2024
“In fact, months later on 10 November 2017, FACS wrote to the child’s
mother advising that the reference to low potassium levels on the removal
order was “an error and should have been deleted”. A subsequent blood test of
17 May 2017, only two days before the removal of the child, reflected that the
child’s potassium levels had returned to normal.
The removal of the child from his family on 19 May 2017 was in circumstances
involving physical violence and high tension. Mr Burton was at the receiving end
of police deployed capsicum spray. He was also instrumental in organising an
ambulance so that the child could travel to hospital with his mother.”
Paul Robert Burton v HA 2017/265287
(Private Prosecution first filed July 2017, first mention Sept 28th 2017 closed down by DPP 21st Dec 2017)
(HA’s identity is hidden as Equity Suppression for 8 years prevents me from identifying the FACS caseworker)
Paul Robert Burton v HA 2017/333120
(Misconduct In Public Office 28/9/17 closed down by the DPP 21st Dec 2017)
(HA’s identity is hidden as Equity Suppression for 8 years prevents me from identifying the FACS caseworker)
Paul Robert Burton v MA 2018/124077
(Private Prosecution filed 19th April 2018 first mention 25th May 2018 eventually closed down by the DPP after going to the Supreme Court)
(MA’s identity is hidden as Equity Suppression for 8 years prevents me from identifying the FACS caseworker)
Paul Robert Burton v Local Court of NSW & MA 2018/274662
(Supreme Court, not sure where this caselaw is or why it is not available)
(MA’s identity is hidden as Equity Suppression for 8 years prevents me from identifying the FACS caseworker)
Paul Robert Burton v Nationwide News Pty Ltd & Rick Morton
(2017/291444 defamation against The Australian filed Sept 2017, settled out of court)
Paul Robert Burton v Daily Mail Australia Pty Ltd
(initiated 14/08/2017 settled out of court)
Paul Robert Burton v State of NSW 2018/234630 (Battery Claim)
(settled out of court)
Re Christopher [2017] NSWSC 318
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/17c5e24a3233771a88cdb05a
Decision restricted [2018] NSWSC 371
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5ab453fbe4b087b8baa87d2b
(restricted Equity decision, one of several hidden decisions, suppression has continued for 8 years)
R v Andrew John Katelaris 2017/162747 before Judge C Jeffreys 19th Jan 2019. (Dr Katelaris won his defence of Medical Necessity)
Burton v Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions [2019] NSWCA 245
(collateral abuse claim to force dropping of three charges that could never succeed)
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5d9bb59fe4b0c3247d71241f
Burton v Babb & Coutts-Trotter [2020] NSWCA 331
(Malicious Prosecution successful in keeping Mr Babb & Mr Coutts-Trotter’s names on the claim)
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1765fb2afca822f9e4699cf4
Burton v The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions [2019] NSWDC 120
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5cafe89ae4b0196eea405ec2
Burton v Local Court of New South Wales [2019] NSWSC 191
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5c7c5da3e4b0196eea404cf5
Burton v Secretary, Dept of Family and Community Services [2019] NSWCA 21
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5c6a3ce9e4b02a5a800bea02
Burton v Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice [2020] NSWCA 68
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5e995afbe4b0d927f74aef9e
Paul Robert Burton v Paypal Australia Pty Ltd 2020/149027
(matter settled out of court)
Burton v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2021] NSWSC 1230
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/17c2abefe6136d5c8a7cf44d
Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice v Paul Robert Burton [2021] NSWSC 1285
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/17c5d1f3276209ecdb18ab4a
Burton v Director of Public Prosecutions [2022] NSWCA 242
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/184c19be864e1afef0fa5be2
Burton v Secretary, Department of Communities & Justice (formerly Family and Community Services) [2022] NSWCA 7
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/17ec338a6ba8d0593faacf2a
Burton v Babb [2023] NSWDC 103
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18796c280b0e05e2a9148afb
Burton v Babb [2023] NSWCA 242
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18b12f32ba3264f133f4eca3
Burton v Director Of Public Prosecutions & Local Court of NSW [2024]NSWSC 863
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/190b8755b3b14d50851ecc59
Burton v The State of New South Wales [2024] NSWDC 314
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/19100d71fbf579b6112a0bb2
Burton v R [2024] NSWCCA 213
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/19346590df03970deb649e03
Burton v R; Katelaris v R [2025] NSWCCA 89
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/197430587d1366761d9546cd
HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Burton v Family & Community Services HCA S106/2019
[2019]HCASL 198 (19 June 2019)
http://www6.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/HCASL/2019/198.html
Burton v Department of Communities & Justice HCA S29/2022
[2022]HCASL 113 (16 June 2022)
http://www6.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/HCASL/2022/113.html
Burton v Director Public Prosecutions & Ors HCA S2/2023
[2023] HCASL 66 (20 April 2023)
http://www6.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/HCASL/2023/66.html
Burton v The King HCA S96/2025
(currently on foot)