Baker v Bunnings Group Limited [2020] NSWDC 310

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Baker v Bunnings Group Limited [2020] NSWDC 310 Hearing dates: 4-8 May 2020; 12 May 2020; 21 May 2020 Date of orders: 18 June 2020 Decision date: 18 June 2020 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Dicker SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the defendant. (2) The plaintiff is to pay the costs of the defendant of the proceedings as agreed or assessed. (3) Liberty to any party to make an application within 14 days to vary order (2) above. (4) The exhibits are to be retained for 28 days. Catchwords: Torts – negligence – Civil Liability Act claim – plaintiff falls on edge of kerb of raised concrete island in carpark of store operated by the defendant – whether defendant store operator breached a duty of care owed to the plaintiff – whether warning was required of kerb – whether some other delineation of kerb required – whether the passage over the island should have been prevented by ropes or barriers – degree of loss of the plaintiff – quantum of domestic assistance to be awarded to the plaintiff Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 15, 15B and 16 Civil Liability (Non-economic Loss) Amendment Order 2019 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 136 Work Health & Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011 (NSW) Cases Cited: Argo Managing Agency Ltd v Al Kammessy [2018] NSWCA 176 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council [2001] HCA 29; (2001) 206 CLR 512 Bruce v Apex Software Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 330 Burwood Council v Byrnes [2002] NSWCA 343 Council of the City of Sydney v Bishop [2019] NSWCA 157 Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 206 CLR 512; [2001] HCA 29 Jackson v McDonald's Australia Ltd [2014] NSWCA 162 Lloyd v Thornbury [2019] NSWCA 154 Miller v Galderisi [2009] NSWCA 353 Neindorf v Junkovic [2005] HCA 75; (2005) 222 ALR 631 Patrick Stevedores Operations (No 2) Pty Ltd v Hennessy [2015] NSWCA 253 Ryde City Council v Saleh [2004] NSWCA 219 Samco Pty v Wurth [2015] NSWCA 117 Smith v Alone [2017] NSWCA 287 Strong v Woolworths Limited [2012] HCA 5; (2012) 246 CLR 182 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; (2013) 250 CLR 375 White v Benjamin [2015] NSWCA 75 Whitton v Dexus Funds Management Ltd [2019] NSWDC 579 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Shirley‑Ann Baker (Plaintiff) Bunnings Group Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: E G Romaniuk SC and S J Roulstone (Plaintiff) G Jensen (Defendant)