Hunt Leather Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW [2023] NSWSC 840

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hunt Leather Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW [2023] NSWSC 840 Hearing dates: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 November 2022

1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13 December 2022 Date of orders: 19 July 2023 Decision date: 19 July 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Cavanagh J Decision: See paragraphs [1138]-[1139]. Catchwords: TORTS — Nuisance – representative proceedings brought against a State entity – class action – where plaintiffs claim that their properties were affected by the construction of the Sydney Light Rail for extensive periods TORTS — Nuisance — private nuisance – elements – relevance of "common and ordinary" use of land – whether interference with plaintiffs' property was substantial and unreasonable – whether interference was foreseeable – whether it is necessary to establish that the defendant failed to take care – whether s 43A of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) applies – whether defendant can rely on a defence of statutory authority – whether the defendant is liable for the nuisance – period of the nuisance – damages – loss of profit TORTS – Public nuisance – elements – private action for public nuisance – where plaintiffs claim mental anguish and economic loss – whether plaintiffs suffered substantial damage over and above that suffered in common with other members of the public affected by the nuisance – s 141 of the Roads Act 1993 (NSW) CIVIL PROCEDURE — Representative proceedings — Group members — consideration of common questions agreed upon by the parties – procedure for identifying group members and assessing their loss Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), Pt 1A, Pt 5, ss 5, 5A, 5B, 41, 42, 43, 43A Civil Liability Act 2002 (WA) Civil Liability Amendment (Personal Responsibility) Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), Pt 10 Crown Proceedings Act 1988 (NSW), s 5(2) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), Pt 5.1, ss 115ZA, 115ZB (superseded) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 13A(1)(a), 50(1)(c) Roads Act 1993 (NSW), Pt 9, Div 3, ss 138(1), 141, 144C Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 (NSW) Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW), Pt 9, Div 2A, ss 3, 3C, 3D, 3E, s 104N, s 104O, Sch 1, cl 9 Transport Administration (General) Amendment (Light Rail) Regulation 2015 (NSW), Sch 1, Pt 7A, cl 82A Cases Cited: Attorney-General v PYA Quarries Ltd (1957) 2 QB 169 Bamford v Turnley (1862) 3 B & S 66; [1862] 1 WLUK 22 Bankstown City Council v Zraika; Roads and Maritime Services v Zraika (2016) 94 NSWLR 159; [2016] NSWCA 51 Barr v Biffa Waste Services Ltd [2012] 3 All ER 380; [2013] QB 455 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; (1774) 98 ER 969 Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 520; [1994] HCA 13 Butler Market Gardens Pty Ltd v GG & PM Burrell Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 768 Cambridge Water Co v Eastern Counties Leather plc [1994] 2 AC 264 Curtis v Harden Shire Council (2014) 88 NSWLR 10; [2014] NSWCA 314 Dansar Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council (2014) 89 NSWLR 1 Deepcliffe Pty Ltd & Anor v The Council of the City of Gold Coast & Anor (2000) 111 LGERA 140; [2000] QSC 411 Della Franca v Lorenzato; Burwood Council v Lorenzetti [2021] NSWCA 321 Elston v Dore (1982) 149 CLR 480; [1982] HCA 71 Fearn and others v Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery [2023] UKSC 4 Gales Holdings Pty Ltd v Tweed Shire Council [2011] NSWSC 1128 Gales Holdings Pty Ltd v Tweed Shire Council (2013) 85 NSWLR 514; [2013] NSWCA 382 Hargrave v Goldman (1963) 110 CLR 40; [1963] HCA 56 Hunter v Canary Wharf Ltd & London Docklands Development Corporation [1997] AC 655 Jalla and another v Shell International Trading and Shipping Co Ltd and another [2023] UKSC 16 Manchester Corporation v Farnworth [1930] AC 171 McKenna v Hunter & New England Local Health District [2013] NSWCA 476 Motorcycling Events Group Australia Pty Ltd v Kelly (2013) 303 ALR 583; [2013] NSWCA 361 Onus v Telstra Corporation Limited [2011] NSWSC 33 Overseas Tankship (UK) Ltd v The Miller Steamship Co Pty Ltd [1967] AC 617 Patsalis v New South Wales (2012) 81 NSWLR 742; [2012] NSWCA 307 Paul v Cooke (2013) 85 NSWLR 167; [2013] NSWCA 311 Precision Products (NSW) Pty Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council (2008) 74 NSWLR 102; [2008] NSWCA 278 Prestage v Barrett, Thorne v Barrett, Howells v Barrett [2021] TASSC 27 Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority (t/as Seqwater) v Rodriguez & Sons Pty Ltd (2021) 393 ALR 162; [2021] NSWCA 206 Rickard v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd (2009) 54 MVR 214; [2009] NSWSC 1115 Riverman Orchards Pty Ltd v Hayden [2017] VSC 379 Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW v Refrigerated Roadways Pty Ltd (2009) 77 NSWLR 360; [2009] NSWCA 263 Robson v Leischke (2008) 72 NSWLR 98; [2008] NSWLEC 152 Rylands v Fletcher (1868) LR 3 HL 330 Sedleigh-Denfield v O'Callaghan [1940] AC 880 Southern Properties (WA) Pty Ltd v Executive Director of the Department of Conservation and Land Management (2012) 42 WAR 287; [2012] WASCA 79 Sturgess v Bridgman (1879) 11 Ch D 852 Sydney Water Corporation v Turano (2009) 239 CLR 51; [2009] HCA 42 Woodhouse v Fitzgerald (2021) 104 NSWLR 475; [2021] NSWCA 54 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 Texts Cited: Aronson, Mark, "Government Liability in Negligence" (2008) 32(1) Melbourne University Law Review 44 Clerk, John Frederic and William Harry Barber Lindsell, Clerk & Lindsell on Torts, Anthony M Dugdale and Michael A Jones (eds) (Sweet & Maxwell, London, 19th ed, 2006) Fleming, John, Fleming's the Law of Torts, Carolyn Sappideen and Prue Vines (eds) (Thomson Reuters, 10th ed, 2011) Law of Negligence Review Panel, Review of the Law of Negligence: Final Report, (Canberra, AGPS, 2002) Winfield, PH, Winfield on Tort: A textbook on the law of tort, T Ellis Lewis (ed) (Sweet & Maxwell London, 6th ed, 1954) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hunt Leather Pty Ltd (First Plaintiff) Sophie Hunt (Second Plaintiff) Ancio Investments Pty Ltd (Third Plaintiff) Nicholas Zisti (Fourth Plaintiff)