Russell v Carpenter [2022] NSWCA 252

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Russell v Carpenter [2022] NSWCA 252 Hearing dates: 4 August 2022 Date of orders: 8 December 2022 Decision date: 08 December 2022 Before: Meagher JA at [1] Gleeson JA at [2] Kirk JA at [3] Decision: (1) The appeal is allowed with costs. (2) Orders 1 and 2 made by the District Court on 31 August 2021 are set aside and, in lieu thereof, the statement of claim is dismissed with costs. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE — Breach — Small, unremarkable helical stairway — Risk of falling slight, inherent and obvious — Installation of handrail not a reasonably required precaution NEGLIGENCE — Causation — Finding of possibility of different result insufficient — Whether installation of handrail would have made any difference — Golf balls in hands of plaintiff — Handrail would have produced no different result Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Cases Cited: Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479; [1987] HCA 7 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512; [2001] HCA 29 Bunnings Group Ltd v Giudice [2018] Aust Torts Reports 82-402; [2018] NSWCA 144 Derrick v Cheung [2001] HCA 48; (2001) 181 ALR 301 Jones v Bartlett (2000) 205 CLR 166; [2000] HCA 56 Kocis v SE Dickens Pty Ltd [1998] 3 VR 408 at 429 Neindorf v Junkovic [2005] HCA 75; (2005) 80 ALJR 341 Prouten v Chapman [2021] NSWCA 207 Rail Corporation New South Wales v Donald [2018] NSWCA 82 Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Shoalhaven City Council v Pender [2013] Aust Torts Reports 82-135; [2013] NSWCA 210 Strong v Woolworths Ltd (2012) 246 CLR 182; [2012] HCA 5 Thompson v Woolworths (Qld) Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 234; [2005] HCA 19 Wilkinson v Law Courts Limited [2001] NSWCA 196 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Damian James Russell (First appellant) Vivianne Russell (Second appellant) Neil Carpenter (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Turnbull SC / R Perla (Appellants) D Hooke SC / S P Brennan / J Thompson (Respondent)