Arndell BHT Arndell v Old Bar Beach Festival Incorporated; Cox v Mid-Coast Council [2020] NSWSC 1710

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Arndell BHT Arndell v Old Bar Beach Festival Incorporated; Cox v Mid-Coast Council [2020] NSWSC 1710 Hearing dates: 4, 6-8, 11-15, 20-21 March 2019 Decision date: 01 December 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: In matter 2015/199567, Arndell v Mid-Coast Council and Ors: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff. (2) The second defendant, Mid-Coast Council, shall pay the plaintiff, Amber Christine Arndell, damages in the sum of $1,513,023.30. (3) Judgment on the cross-claim for the cross-claimant. (4) Pursuant to s 5 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), the cross-defendant, Paul Clarendon Cox, shall indemnify and/or contribute, by payment to the cross-claimant, Mid-Coast Council, 35% of the aforesaid damages, being an amount of $529,558.16. (5) Interest shall be payable on all amounts from the date of judgment in accordance with the prescribed rate and shall be payable by the second defendant to the plaintiff and by the cross-defendant to the cross-claimant respectively. (6) The second defendant, Mid-Coast Council, shall pay the plaintiff's costs of and incidental to the proceedings on the following bases: (a) on and from 20 December 2017, on an indemnity basis; (b) otherwise, costs, prior thereto, if any, on an ordinary basis. (7) The cross-defendant, Paul Clarendon Cox, shall indemnify and/or contribute, pursuant to s 5 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), 35% of the costs assessed and/or agreed, payable pursuant to the immediately preceding order. (8) Leave is granted to any party to approach for the purposes of correcting any arithmetic or mechanical error in the foregoing calculations or the accidental omission of a head of damage. In matter number 2014/286417, Paul Clarendon Cox v Mid-Coast Council and Ors: (1) Judgment for the defendants. (2) The plaintiff shall pay the defendants' costs of and incidental to the proceedings. (3) Otherwise, the proceedings are dismissed. Catchwords: TORTS – personal injuries – two cases – psychiatric injury – public authority – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) – flying as dangerous recreational activity – collision between aircraft and Ferris wheel – no damages allowed for Pilot – damages to occupant of Ferris wheel – joint and several liability Legislation Cited: Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (Cth), r 92(1) Civil Liability (Non-economic loss) Order 2010 (NSW) Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3B, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5F, 5K, 5L, 5R, 16, 17, 18, 42, 43, 43A, 44 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 136 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5 Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 (NSW), rr 4, 71, 72, 73 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), ss 47A, 68, 75, 98, 219, 220, 222, 223, 355, 377, 382 Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 14.7 Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak (2009) 239 CLR 420; [2009] HCA 48 Arthur Robinson (Grafton) Pty Ltd v Carter (1968) 122 CLR 649; [1968] HCA 9 Baird v Roberts [1977] 2 NSWLR 389 Bankstown City Council v Zraika (2017) 94 NSWLR 159; [2016] NSWCA 51 Council of the City of Greater Taree v Wells [2010] NSWCA 147 Council of the Shire of Wyong v Shirt (1979-1980) 146 CLR 40; [1980] HCA 12 Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee (1999) 200 CLR 1; [1999] HCA 59 Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 Goode v Angland (2017) 96 NSWLR 503; [2017] NSWCA 31 Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340; [1961] HCA 48 Home Office v Dorset Yacht Co Ltd [1970] AC 1004 Husher v Husher (1999) 197 CLR 138; [1999] HCA 47 Kirby v Sanderson Motors Pty Ltd (2002) 54 NSWLR 135; [2002] NSWCA 44 Livingstone v Rawyards Coal Co (1880) 5 App Cas 25 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; [1990] HCA 20 Mead v Kerney [2012] NSWCA 215 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254; [2000] HCA 61 New South Wales v Fahy (2007) 232 CLR 486; [2007] HCA 20 Podrebersek v Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALJR 492; [1985] HCA 34 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164; [1965] HCA 34 Rylands v Fletcher (1868) LR 3 HL 330 Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208 Shaw v Shaw (1954) 2 QB 429 South Western Sydney Local Health District v Sorbello [2017] NSWCA 201 State of New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536; [2000] NSWCA 133 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 223 CLR 422; [2005] HCA 62 Van Velzen v Wagenerhan (1975) 10 SASR 549 Wallace v Kam [2012] NSWCA 82 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158; [1960] HCA 58 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1979-1980) 146 CLR 40; [1980] HCA 12 Texts Cited: Civil Aviation Advisory Publication 92-1(1) Category: Principal judgment Parties: 2015/199567 Amber Christine Arndell by her tutor Kathy-Lee Arndell (Plaintiff) Old Bar Beach Festival Incorporated (First Defendant) Mid-Coast Council (Second Defendant) Paul Clarendon Cox (Third Defendant/Cross-Defendant) Mid-Coast Council (Cross-Claimant)