Marmara v Kmart Australia Limited [2024] NSWDC 89

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Marmara v Kmart Australia Limited [2024] NSWDC 89 Hearing dates: 12, 13 February 2024 Date of orders: 26 March 2024 Decision date: 26 March 2024 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff. (2) Liberty to the parties to bring in short minutes of order reflecting the mathematically agreed quantum of the damages to be awarded, with liberty to apply if that sum cannot be agreed. (3) Costs reserved with liberty to apply. (4) Exhibits retained until further order. Catchwords: TORT – personal injury – Kmart customer in the self-service checkout section hit by a large and heavy trail bike box in another shopper's trolley falling onto her from behind – duty of care – foreseeability – Kmart system for shoppers with outsize items - damages Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5D, 13 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 79 Cases Cited: Alat v Franklins Pty Ltd (2012) 15 DCLR (NSW) 203 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 Clancy v Plaintiffs A, B, C and D; Bird v Plaintiffs A, B, C and D [2022] NSWCA 119; 318 IR 31 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588 Dotlic v Hannover Life Re of Australia Limited [2017] NSWSC 986 Fernandez v State of New South Wales [2019] NSWSC 1736 Grima v RFI (Aust) Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1199 Health Care Corporation Pty Ltd t/as Wollongong Private Hospital v Cleary [2024] NSWCA 57 HG v The Queen (1999) 197 CLR 414 Houghton v Immer (No 155) Pty Ltd (1997) 44 NSWLR 46 Jafari v Khoury and McDonalds Australia Ltd [2019] NSWDC 394 Lang v The Queen [2023] HCA 29; (2023) 97 ALJR 758 LJP Investments Pty Ltd v Howard Chia Investments Pty Ltd (1989) 24 NSWLR 490 Markus v Provincial Insurance Co Limited (1983) 25 NSWCCR 1 Mead v Kearney [2012] NSWCA 215 Merhi v Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited [2012] VSCA 147 Murko v Greenfields Narellan Holdings trading as Narellan Town Centre [2015] NSWDC 132 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164 Ratewave Pty Ltd v BJ Illingby [2017] NSWCA 103 Ridolfi v Hammond [2012] NSWCA 3 South Western Sydney Local Health District v Sorbello [2017] NSWCA 201 State of New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536; [2000] NSWCA 133 Strong v Woolworths Ltd (2012) 246 CLR 182 Sullivan v Stefanidi [2009] NSWCA 313 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158 Waugh v Kippen (1986) 160 CLR 156; [1986] HCA 12 Zamaglas v Saltalamaccia [2023] NSWDC 553 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rita Marmara (Plaintiff) Kmart Australia Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R McIlwaine SC with R E Quickenden (Plaintiff) D Priestley SC (Defendant)