El Hallak v Sydney Trains [2020] NSWDC 374

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: El Hallak v Sydney Trains [2020] NSWDC 374 Hearing dates: 29 June – 2 July 2020 Date of orders: 21 July 2020 Decision date: 21 July 2020 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraph 242 Catchwords: TORTS – occupier liability – whether plaintiff's version of incident accepted – whether breach of duty – nature of injuries and restrictions caused by fall – consideration of heads of damages – contributory negligence – employer liability Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5R, 5S, 13 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 151Z Cases Cited: Adams v Ascot Iron Foundry Pty Ltd (1968) 72 SR (NSW) 120 Australian Safeways Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 Avopiling Pty Ltd v Bosevski [2018] NSWCA 146 Commercial Union Assurance Co of Australia Limited v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 Forstaff Blacktown Pty Ltd v Brimac Pty Ltd & Anor; Brimac Pty Ltd v Johnston & Anor (2005) 4 DDCR 179 Husher v Husher (1999) 197 CLR 138 Joslyn v Berryman (2013) 214 CLR 552 Kallouf v Middis [2008] NSWCA 61 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2001) 243 CLR 361 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Rail Corporation New South Wales v Donald; Staff Innovations Pty Ltd t/as Bamford Family Trust [2018] NSWCA 82 Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Ltd (2000) 200 CLR 121 Thompson v Woolworths (Queensland) Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 234 Wallace v Kam (2013) 250 CLR 375 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr A El Hallak (Plaintiff) Sydney Trains (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr M McAuley for the plaintiff Mr N Hogan for the defendant