Fairfield City Council v Bastow Civil Constructions Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 1143

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Fairfield City Council v Bastow Civil Constructions Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 1143 Hearing dates: 7 March 2023 Date of orders: 21 September 2023 Decision date: 21 September 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Mitchelmore J Decision: (1) The Summons is dismissed. (2) The parties are to file and serve written submissions on costs of no more than two (2) pages by 4pm on 5 October 2023, with the question of costs to be determined on the papers. Catchwords: STATUTORY INTERPRETATION — Impounding Act 1993 (NSW) (repealed) — whether s 45(3) confers statutory right of action — whether subsection creates exception to statutory extinguishment of right of former owner to sue impounding authority for damages for exercise of power of sale of impounded item TORTS — negligence — duty of care — public authority — whether Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), 43A engaged — whether liability based on exercise of special statutory power TORTS — negligence — standard of care — Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 43A(3) — whether no public authority could properly consider pleaded acts and omissions a reasonable exercise of its power — multiple failures to keep records leading to sale of impounded vehicle TORTS — negligence — Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 43 — whether s 43 applies to actions in negligence Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2022 (NSW), ss 40, 41, 43, 43A, 44 Civil Liability Amendment Act 2003 (NSW) Impounding Act 1993 (NSW) (repealed), ss 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, 27, 45 Local Court Act 2007 (NSW), ss 39, 40 Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Baker v Australian Asbestos Insulations Pty Ltd (1985) 3 NSWLR 280 Bankstown City Council v Zraika; Roads and Maritime Services v Zraika (2016) 94 NSWLR 159; [2016] NSWCA 51 Collins v Clarence Valley Council (2015) 91 NSWLR 128; [2015] NSWCA 263 Curtis v Harden Shire Council (2014) 88 NSWLR 10; [2014] NSWCA 314 Della Franca v Lorenzato; Burwood Council v Lorenzato [2021] NSWCA 321 Doyle's Farm Produce Pty Ltd v Murray-Darling Basin Authority (No 2) (2021) 106 NSWLR 41; [2021] NSWCA 246 Gales Holdings Pty Ltd v Tweed Shire Council (2013) 85 NSWLR 514; [2013] NSWCA 382 Hunter Area Health Service v Presland (2005) 63 NSWLR 22; [2005] NSWCA 33 Precision Products (NSW) Pty Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council (2008) 74 NSWLR 102; [2008] NSWCA 278 Presland v Hunter Area Health Service [2003] NSWSC 754 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Refrigerated Roadways Pty Ltd (2009) 77 NSWLR 360; [2009] NSWCA 263 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 Watches of Switzerland Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW [2018] NSWSC 1256 Weber v Greater Hume Shire Council (2019) 100 NSWLR 1; [2019] NSWCA 74 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Fairfield City Council (Plaintiff) Bastow Civil Constructions Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr E P Anderson (Plaintiff) Mr S Jayasuriya (Defendant)