Levenspiel v Grinter [2021] NSWLC 11

Local Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Levenspiel v Grinter [2021] NSWLC 11 Hearing dates: 8 November 2021; 15 November 2021 (written submissions); 21 November 2021 (further written submissions); 13 December 2021 (costs submissions); 21 December 2021 (further costs submissions) Date of orders: 22 December 2021 (final orders) Decision date: 22 December 2021 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Nash LCM Decision: The final orders of the Court are as follows: (1) Judgment and verdict for the Defendant; (2) Plaintiff's Statement of Claim filed 8 November 2019 is dismissed; (3) The Plaintiff is to pay the Defendant's costs of the proceedings on the ordinary basis up to 12 May 2020; and (4) The Plaintiff is to pay the Defendant's costs of the proceedings on an indemnity basis from 13 May 2020 (including the costs of the costs application). Catchwords: Civil claim – Collision between unmanned marine vessels – Negligence – Non-delegable duty of care – Breach of duty – Damages – Expert evidence in the Local Court – Joint Reports – Costs Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Ports and Maritime Administration Regulation 2012 (NSW) Subordinate Legislation Act 1989 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bettergrow Pty Ltd v NSW Electricity Networks Operations Pty Ltd as trustee for NSW Electricity Networks operations Trust t/as TransGrid (No. 2) [2018] NSWSC 514 Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 520 Commonwealth v Introvigne (1982) 150 CLR 258 Ellis v Wallsend District Hospital (1989) 17 NSWLR 553 Field v Dettman [2013] NSWCA 147 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Montgomery (2007) 230 CLR 22 McLaughlin v Dungowan Manly Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 306 NMFM Property Pty Ltd v Citibank Ltd (No. 10) [2000] FCA 1558 Reed v Warburton [2011] NSWCA 98 Sovar v Henry Lane Pty Ltd (1967) 116 CLR 397 Woodhouse v Fitzgerald and McCoy (No. 2) [2020] NSWSC 450 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Max Levenspiel (Plaintiff) Geoffrey Grinter (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr J Levingston, Barrister (Plaintiff) Mr B Lloyd, Barrister (Defendant)