Evans v AIR CANADA [2023] NSWSC 1535

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Evans v AIR CANADA [2023] NSWSC 1535 Hearing dates: 14 September 2023 Decision date: 12 December 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) The Court answers the following questions in the manner indicated: (a) Does Rule 105(C) [of the defendant's Tariff rules] provide and have the effect that if this Court assesses each plaintiff's compensatory damages in Australian dollars in an amount in excess of 128,821 Special Drawing Rights (SDR), each is entitled to recover that sum from the defendant even if the defendant can prove that the damages were not due to the negligence or other wrongful act or omission of the carrier or its servants or agents or such damage was solely due to the negligence or other wrongful act or omission of a third party? Answer: Yes. (b) Does Part 2 of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) apply to the determination of the quantum of any damages recoverable by the plaintiffs? Answer: Yes. (2) The parties' costs of and incidental to these Motions shall be costs in the cause. (3) The parties have liberty, by 31 January 2024, to make application for a different or special order as to costs by submission of no more than three pages in length, accompanied by any document upon which the application relies that is not otherwise in evidence. Any party affected by such application may respond within a further seven days by submission of no more than three pages in length, accompanied by any other document not otherwise in evidence. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – Airline accident – no allegation of fault – applicability of Montreal Convention – whether damages limited by Convention – whether Civil Liability Act applies CIVIL PROCEDURE – Separate determination of questions – questions of law as to limit to damages – applicability of Montreal Convention – applicability of Civil Liability Act – questions answered Legislation Cited: Civil Aviation (Carrier' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth) Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: Agtrack (NT) Pty Ltd t/as Spring Air v Hatfield (2005) 223 CLR 251; [2005] HCA 38 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Applicant A v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1997) 190 CLR 225; [1997] HCA 4 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association (1973) 129 CLR 99; [1973] HCA 36 Blunden v Commonwealth (2003) 218 CLR 330; [2003] HCA 73 Bradshaw v Emirates (2021) 395 ALR 97; [2021] FCA 1407 Carr v Western Australia (2007) 232 CLR 138; [2007] HCA 47 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337; [1982] HCA 24 Coleman v Barrat [2004] NSWCA 27 Goldsborough Mort & Co Ltd v Carter (1914) 19 CLR 429; [1914] HCA 80 Grueff v Virgin Australia (2021) 395 ALR 249; [2021] FCA 501 HDI Global Speciality SE v Wonkana No 3 Pty Ltd (2020) 104 NSWLR 634; [2020] NSWCA 296 Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corp (1984) 156 CLR 41; [1984] HCA 6462 International Air Transport Association v Ansett Australia Holdings Ltd (2008) 234 CLR 151; [2008] HCA 3 James Hardie & Co v Hall (1998) 43 NSWLR 554 Kingston v Keprose (1987) 11 NSWLR 404 Lahey Constructions Pty Ltd v The State of New South Wales [2021] NSWCA 69 Mannai Investments v Eagle Star Life Assurance Co Ltd [1997] A.C. 749 Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning v Rosemount Estates Pty Ltd (1996) 91 LGERA 31 Motorcycling Events Group Australia Pty Ltd v Kelly (2013) 86 NSWLR 55; [2013] NSWCA 361 National Mutual Holdings Pty Ltd v The Sentry Corporation (1989) 22 FCR 209; [1988] FCA 133 Parkes Shire Council v South West Helicopters Pty Ltd (2019) 266 CLR 212; [2019] HCA 14 Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd v Casey (2017) 93 NSWLR 438; [2017] NSWCA 32 Pitt, Son & Badgery Ltd v Sydney Municipal Council (1908) 24 WN (NSW) 203 Povey v Qantas Airways Ltd (2005) 223 CLR 189; [2005] HCA 33 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 QBE Insurance Australia Ltd v Vasic [2010] NSWCA 166 Schuler v Wickman Machine Tool Sales Ltd [1974] A.C. 235 Tannous v New South Wales (2020) 103 NSWLR 183; [2020] NSWCA 261 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165; [2004] HCA 52 Zicherman v Korean Air Lines Co (1996) 516 US 217; 116 U.S. 217 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Renae Evans (First Plaintiff) Stephanie Evans by her Tutor Renae Evans (Second Plaintiff) AIR CANADA (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R McIwaine SC/R Quickenden (Plaintiffs) G O'Mahoney/A E Flick (Defendant)