Dickson v Northern Lakes Rugby League Sport & Recreation Club Inc [2020] NSWCA 294

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Dickson v Northern Lakes Rugby League Sport & Recreation Club Inc [2020] NSWCA 294 Hearing dates: 1 May 2020 Date of orders: 18 November 2020 Decision date: 18 November 2020 Before: Basten JA at [1]; White JA at [18]; Simpson AJA at [39] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed. 2. The appellant to pay the respondents' costs of the appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – general principles – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) – personal injury – "spear tackle" or "dangerous throw" during a rugby league match – whether "intent to cause injury" – presumption that a wrongdoer intends the natural and probable consequences of his or her conduct. WORDS AND PHRASES – meaning of "intent to cause injury" – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 3B(1) – actual, subjective, intention NEGLIGENCE – defences – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) – s 5L materialisation of an obvious risk of a dangerous recreational activity – whether intentional act – whether effected with intent cause injury – recreational activity where an intention to cause some degree of injury is likely or common. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 3B, 5, 5L, 51, 52; Pt 1A, Pt 7 Civil Liability Amendment (Personal Responsibility) Act 2002 (NSW), s 9 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 79 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 33 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Cases Cited: Advanced Wire and Cable Pty Ltd v Abdulle [2009] VSCA 107 Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [1983] 1 NSWLR 1 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 (HL) Carter v Hastings River Greyhound Racing Club [2020] NSWCA 185 Cowell v Corrective Services Commission of New South Wales (1988) 13 NSWLR 714 Croucher v Cachia (2016) 95 NSWLR 117; [2016] NSWCA 132 Dean v Phung [2012] NSWCA 223; (2012) Aust-Tort Rep 82-111 Dickson v Northern Lakes Rugby League Sport & Recreation Club Inc (No 2) [2019] NSWDC 433 Dickson v Northern Lakes Rugby League Sport and Recreation Club Inc [2019] NSWDC 426 Fede v Gray by his tutor NSW Trustee and Guardian [2018] NSWCA 316 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Hayer v Kan [2014] NSWSC 126 Knight v The Queen (1992) 175 CLR 495; [1992] HCA 56 McCracken v Melbourne Storm Rugby League Football Club [2005] NSWSC 107; [2007] NSWCA 353; [2007] Aust Tort Reports 81-295 NU v NSW Secretary of Family & Community Services (2017) 95 NSWLR 577; [2017] NSWCA 221 Palmer Bruyn and Parker v Parsons (2001) 208 CLR 388; [2001] HCA 69 Parker v The Queen (1963) 111 CLR 610; [1963] HCA 14 R v Willmot (No 2) [1985] 2 Qd R 413 Robinson Helicopter Co Inc v McDermott [2016] HCA 22; (2016) 90 ALJR 679 Sangha v Baxter [2009] NSWCA 78; (2009) 52 MVR 492 Scalise v Bezzina [2003] NSWCA 362 Smyth v The Queen (1957) 98 CLR 163; [1957] HCA 24 Stapleton v The Queen (1952) 86 CLR 358-365; [1952] HCA 56 State of NSW v Cuthbertson (2018) 99 NSWLR 120; [2018] NSWCA 320 State of New South Wales v Ibbett (2005) 65 NSWLR 168; [2005] NSWCA 445 State of New South Wales v Lepore (2003) 212 CLR 511; [2003] HCA 4 State Rail Authority of NSW v Brown (2006) 66 NSWLR 540; [2006] NSWCA 220 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection; SZTGM v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 TCN Channel 9 Pty Ltd v Anning (2002) 54 NSWLR 333; [2002] NSWCA 82 West v Mead [2003] NSWSC 161 Zaburoni v The Queen (2016) CLR 482; [2016] HCA 12 Texts Cited: RP Balkin and JLR Davis Law of Torts (4th ed, LexisNexis Butterworths, 2009) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael Leslie Dickson (Appellant) Northern Lakes Rugby League Sport & Recreation Inc (1st Respondent) Brendan Fletcher (2nd Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Cranitch SC/M Daley (Appellant) J Sexton SC/M Best (Respondents)