Horne v J K Williams Contracting Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 58

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Horne v J K Williams Contracting Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 58 Hearing dates: 24 February 2023 Date of orders: 31 March 2023 Decision date: 31 March 2023 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; Basten AJA at [2]; Griffiths AJA at [69]. Decision: (1) Extend time within which to commence the appeal to 1 August 2022. (2) Dismiss the appeal. (3) Order that the appellant pay the respondent's costs in this Court. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – duty of care – breach of duty – orange barricades placed on unmade verge of roadway along construction site – cyclist collided with barricade at night – streetlight not at full capacity – light not under control of builder – whether builder should have known light malfunctioning – whether duty of builder to illuminate barricade or place warning signs LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – personal injury – date cause of action discoverable – when plaintiff knew injury caused by fault of defendant – when plaintiff knew injury sufficiently serious to justify bringing proceedings – actual knowledge established more than three years prior to commencement of proceedings – trial judge erred in relying on principles relevant to constructive knowledge Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 5B Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), ss 50A, 50C, 50D Cases Cited: Baker-Morrison v State of New South Wales (2009) 74 NSWLR 454; [2009] NSWCA 35 Murgolo v AAI Ltd t/as AAMI (2019) 101 NSWLR 376; [2019] NSWCA 295 Pomare v Whyte [2019] NSWCA 317 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Miller (2015) 91 NSWLR 752; [2015] NSWCA 320 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Anthony Horne (Appellant) J K Williams Contracting Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B Dooley SC / G Hickey (Appellant) D Villa SC / R Gambi (Respondent)