Kime v Vicinity Centres PM Pty Ltd & Anor [2021] NSWDC 113

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Kime v Vicinity Centres PM Pty Ltd & Anor [2021] NSWDC 113 Hearing dates: 28, 29, 30 October, 2 November 2020 (Newcastle), 11 & 18 February 2021 (Sydney) Date of orders: 08 April 2021 Decision date: 08 April 2021 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Judge Levy SC Decision: 1. Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff against both defendants in the sum of $172,554; 2. On the cross-claims, the first defendant is to pay 60 per cent of the plaintiff's judgment and the second defendant is to pay 40 per cent of the plaintiff's judgment; 3. I will hear the parties on the appropriate consequential orders for costs; 4. The exhibits may be returned; 5. Liberty to apply on 7 days' notice if further or other orders are required. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – occupier's liability – trip and fall on a kinked wet weather mat located near the entrance to a shopping centre mall – findings of negligence against two occupiers – rejection of defences of obvious risk and contributory negligence – apportionment of liability between defendants; DAMAGES – consideration of conflicting medical evidence as to cause of plaintiff's ongoing disabilities – assessment of claimed heads of damage Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 5B, s 5C, s 5D, s 5F, s 5G, s 5H, s 5R, s 5S, s 16 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 60 Law Reform Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5(1)(c) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 31.27(1) and Sch 7, cl 5(c), r 31.28(1)(c) Cases Cited: Angel v Hawkesbury Council [2008] NSWCA 130 Bevillesta Pty Limited v Liberty International Insurance Co [2009] NSWCA 16 Blacktown City Council v Hocking [2008] NSWCA 144 Caltex Refineries (Qld) Pty Limited v Stavar (2009) 75 NSWLR 649; [2009] NSWCA 258 CG Maloney Pty Ltd v Hutton-Potts [2006] NSWCA 136 Condos v Clycut Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 200 Daw v Toyworld (NSW) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 25 Glad Retail Cleaning Pty Ltd v Alvarenga [2013] NSWCA 482 Goode v Angland [2017] NSWCA 311 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Ltd v Arsic [2006] NSWCA 187 Jaber v Rockdale City Council [2008] NSWCA 98 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Mt Isa Mines Ltd v Pusey (1970) 125 CLR 383; [1970] HCA 60 Nowlan v Marson Transport Pty Ltd (2001) NSWLR 116; [2001] NSWCA 346 Patrick Stevedores Operations (No 2) Pty Ltd v Hennessy; FBIS International Protective Services (Aust) Pty Ltd v Hennessy [2015] NSWCA 253 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith (2015) NSWLR 1, [2015] NSWCA 90 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALR 529; [1985] HCA 34 Pollard v RRR Corporation Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 110 Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Shaw v Thomas [2010] NSWCA 169 Solomons v Pallier [2015] NSWCA 266 Strinic v Singh [2009] NSWCA 15 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5 Twynam Agricultural Group Pty Ltd v Williams [2012] NSWCA 326 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Miller [2015] NSWCA 320 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 223 CLR 442; [2005] HCA 62 Warren v Gittoes [2009] NSWCA 24 White v Overland [2001] FCA 1333 Yarrabee Coal Company Pty Ltd & Anor v Lujans [2009] NSWCA 85 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Pamela Joy Kime (Plaintiff) Vicinity Centres PM Pty Ltd (First defendant) Millenium Hi-Tech Group Pty Ltd (Second defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Kirby (Plaintiff) Mr G Jensen (First defendant) Mr A Hourigan (Second defendant)