De Roma v Inner West Council & Ausgrid [2022] NSWDC 425

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: De Roma v Inner West Council & Ausgrid [2022] NSWDC 425 Hearing dates: 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19 August 2022 Date of orders: 23 September 2022 Decision date: 23 September 2022 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Judge Levy SC Decision: See paragraph [363] for orders. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – occupiers liability – plaintiff injured following trip over uneven margin of sunken utility pit lid on footpath – findings on negligence and contributory negligence – rejection of defence of obvious risk – plaintiff unsuccessful in claim against first defendant – plaintiff successful in claim against fourth defendant; DAMAGES – 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 45 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 58(2) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 60 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Cases Cited: Angel v Hawkesbury Council [2008] NSWCA 130 Aon Risk Services Australia Limited v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Astley v Austrust Ltd (1999) 197 CLR 1; [1999] HCA 6 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna [1987] HCA 7; (1987) 162 CLR 479 Baker v Willoughby [1970] AC 467; [1969] UKHL 8 Binetter v Binetter [2022] NSWCA 169 Blacktown City Council v Hocking [2008] NSWCA 144 Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v Cosmidis (No 2) (2014) 86 NSWLR 393; [2014] NSWCA 139 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council; Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 206 CLR 512; [2001] HCA 29 Commissioner for Railways v Ruprecht (1979) 142 CLR 563 Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658; [1982] HCA 70 Daw v Toyworld (NSW) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 25 DMN Mining Pty Ltd v Barwick [2004] NSWCA 137 Faulkner v Keffalinos (1971) 45 ALJR 80 Goode v Angland [2017] NSWCA 311 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Ltd v Arsic [2006] NSWCA 187 Gordon v Truong; Truong v Gordon [2014] NSWCA 97 Guthrie v Spence (2009) 78 NSWLR 225; [2009] NSWCA 369 Hunter and New England Local Health District v McKenna; Hunter and New England Local District Health Service v Simon [2014] HCA 44 Leotta v Public Transport Commission of NSW (1976) 9 ALR 437 Lloyd v Thornbury [2019] NSWCA 154 Luxton v Vines (1952) 85 CLR 352; [1952] HCA 19 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; [1990] HCA 20 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 McKenna v Hunter and New England Local Health District [2013] NSWCA 476 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; 205 CLR 254 Mt Isa Mines Ltd v Pusey (1970) 125 CLR 383; [1970] HCA 60 Nowlan v Marson Transport Pty Ltd (2001) 53 NSWLR 116; [2001] NSWCA 346 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith (2015) NSWLR 1, [2015] NSWCA 90 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALJR 492; [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 Selby v Bankstown City Council [2013] NSWDC 84 State of NSW v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536; [2000] NSWCA 133 Strong v Woolworths Ltd (2012) 246 CLR 182; [2012] HCA 5 Tapp v Australian Bushmen's Campcraft & Rodeo Association Limited [2022] HCA 11 Twynam Agricultural Group Pty Ltd v Williams [2012] NSWCA 326 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Miller [2015] NSWCA 320 Warren v Gittoes [2009] NSWCA 24 Water Board v Moustakas (1988) 180 CLR 491; [1988] HCA 12 Wollongong City Council v Williams [2021] NSWCA 140 Yarrabee Coal Company Pty Ltd & Anor v Lujans [2009] NSWCA 85 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lynda Gabriel de Roma (Plaintiff) Inner West Council (First defendant) Ausgrid Operator Partnership t/as Ausgrid (Fourth defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr L Robison (Plaintiff) Mr J Guihot (First defendant) Mr C O'Neill (Fourth defendant)