Blue Op Partner Pty Ltd v De Roma [2023] NSWCA 161

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Blue Op Partner Pty Ltd v De Roma [2023] NSWCA 161 Hearing dates: 16 March 2023 Date of orders: 12 July 2023 Decision date: 12 July 2023 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Mitchelmore JA at [69]; Kirk JA at [70] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Set aside orders 3, 4 and 5 of the District Court. (3) In lieu therefore, order that the proceedings against the appellant partnership (as fourth defendant) be dismissed and that the respondent (as plaintiff) pay the appellants' costs of those proceedings. (4) Summons seeking leave to cross-appeal dismissed. (5) Respondent pay the appellants' costs of the appeal and proposed cross-appeal. (6) Grant leave to the appellants to apply by motion to vary the costs order in order 3. That notice of motion is to be filed and served in accordance with Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 r 36.16. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – occupiers' liability – where pedestrian injured following trip on uneven surface of footpath created by up to 1cm height differential between utility pit lid and surrounding metal frame – whether risk of tripping on uneven surface an "obvious risk" – characterisation of "risk of harm" – obvious risk engaging s 5H(1) of Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5G, 5L, 5R Cases Cited: Brodie v Singleton Shire Council; Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 206 CLR 512; [2001] HCA 29 Bruce v Apex Software Pty Limited t/as Lark Ellen Aged Care [2018] NSWCA 330 C G Maloney Pty Ltd v Hutton-Potts [2006] NSWCA 136 Chapman v Hearse (1961) 106 CLR 112; [1961] HCA 46 Council of City of Sydney v Bishop [2019] NSWCA 157 De Roma v Inner West Council & Ausgrid (No 2) [2022] NSWDC 562 Fallas v Mourlos (2006) 65 NSWLR 418; [2006] NSWCA 32 Hawkesbury Sports Council v Martin [2019] NSWCA 76 JFIT Holdings Pty Ltd t/as New Dimensions Health & Fitness v Powell [2021] NSWCA 137 Kempsey Shire Council v Five Star Medical Centre Pty Ltd (2018) 99 NSWLR 98; [2018] NSWCA 308 Menz v Wagga Wagga Show Society Inc (2020) 103 NSWLR 103; [2020] NSWCA 65 Ratewave Pty Ltd v BJ Illingby [2017] NSWCA 103 Richmond Valley Council v Standing [2002] NSWCA 359 Road and Traffic of New South Wales v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Romeo v Conservation Commission (NT) (1998) 192 CLR 431; [1998] HCA 5 Russell v Carpenter [2022] NSWCA 252 Singh v Lynch (2020) 103 NSWLR 568; [2020] NSWCA 152 South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club Ltd v Gazis [2016] NSWCA 8 Tapp v Australian Bushmen's Campdraft & Rodeo Association Ltd (2022) 273 CLR 454; [2022] HCA 11 Thompson v Woolworths (Qld) Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 234; [2005] HCA 19 Texts Cited: WorkCover NSW, Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls (2007) Austroads, Guide to Traffic Engineering Practice Part 13 – Pedestrians (1995) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Blue Op Partner Pty Ltd (ACN 615 217 500) as trustee for the Blue Op Partner Trust ERIC Alpha Operator Corporation 1 Pty Ltd (ACN 612 975 096) as trustee for ERIC Alpha Operator Trust 1 ERIC Alpha Operator Corporation 2 Pty Ltd (ACN 612 975 121) as trustee for ERIC Alpha Operator Trust 2 ERIC Alpha Operator Corporation 3 Pty Ltd (ACN 612 975 185) as trustee for ERIC Alpha Operator Trust 3 ERIC Alpha Operator Corporation 4 Pty Ltd (ACN 612 975 210) as trustee for ERIC Alpha Operator Trust 4 all being the Ausgrid Operator Partnership (ABN 78 508 211 731) (Appellants)