Carter v Hastings River Greyhound Racing Club [2020] NSWCA 185

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Carter v Hastings River Greyhound Racing Club [2020] NSWCA 185 Hearing dates: 19 March 2020 Date of orders: 21 August 2020 Decision date: 21 August 2020 Before: Gleeson JA at [1] White JA at [2] Simpson AJA at [9] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed. 2. The appellant to pay the respondent's cost of the appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – general principles – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) – personal injury – operating a catching pen gate at a greyhound race – whether "recreational activity" – whether par (c) of the definition of "recreational activity" in Civil Liability Act, s 5K imposes an "artificial meaning" to the word "recreational" – potential anomalous consequence of literal construction – whether activity dangerous – obvious risk – whether respondent in breach of duty to appellant – whether respondent ought to have taken precautions against risk of harm – causation – contributory negligence STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – departure from literal meaning – whether additional words can be read into statute to avoid potential unintended consequences – whether ordinary meaning of defined terms can be used in construction of the statutory definition of the term – unreasonable consequences – activities caught under the definition of "recreational activity" asserted to have an unacceptable reach Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), Pt 9, ss 3B, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5K, 5L, 5R, 5S, 50, 60, 61 Civil Liability Amendment (Personal Responsibility) Act 2002 (NSW) Fire and Rescue Act 1989 (NSW), s 69(2) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 6, 33 Workers Compensation (Bush Fire, Emergency and Rescue Services) Act 1987 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), Pt 5, Div 3, ss 4, 151Z(1) Cases Cited: Alameddine v Glenworth Valley Horse Riding Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 219; (2015) 324 ALR 355 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Belna Pty Ltd v Irwin [2009] NSWCA 46 Carter v Hastings River Greyhound Racing Club [2019] NSWSC 780 Esso Australia Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union (2017) 263 CLR 551; [2017] HCA 54 Fallas v Mourlas (2006) 65 NSWLR 418; [2006] NSWCA 32 Goode v Angland (2017) 96 NSWLR 503; [2017] NSWCA 311 Hrybynyuk v Mazur [2004] NSWCA 374; (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-774 Menz v Wagga Wagga Show Society Inc [2020] NSWCA 65 Motorcycling Events Group Australia Pty Ltd v Kelly (2013) 86 NSWLR 55; [2013] NSWCA 361 Paul v Cooke (2013) 85 NSWLR 167; [2013] NSWCA 311 QBE Workers Compensation (NSW) Ltd v Dolan (2004) 62 NSWLR 42; [2004] NSWCA 458 Singh bhnf Ambu Kanwar v Lynch [2020] NSWCA 152 The Queen v A2; The Queen v Magennis; The Queen v Vaziri [2019] HCA 35; (2019) 93 ALJR 1106 Texts Cited: J Goudkamp, Tort Law Defences (Hart Publishing, 2013, Oxford) P Herzfeld and T Prince, Interpretation (2nd ed, 2020, Thomson Reuters) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jason Bruce Carter (Appellant) Hastings River Greyhound Racing Club (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: F Austin (Appellant) J E Sexton SC/D P Kelly (Respondent)