Langdon v Carnival PLC [2024] NSWCA 168

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Langdon v Carnival PLC [2024] NSWCA 168 Hearing dates: 27 May 2024 Date of orders: 16 July 2024 Decision date: 16 July 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; Kirk JA at [199]; Basten AJA at [200] Decision: 1. Appeal be dismissed with costs. 2. Grant leave to the cross-applicant to cross-appeal. 3. Allow the cross-appeal and vary order 1 made by the primary judge on 1 February 2024 as follows: (a) Order that the plaintiff pay the defendant's costs of the proceedings to be assessed on the ordinary basis up to and including 19 April 2022 and thereafter on an indemnity basis. 4. Order the cross-respondent to pay the cross-appellant's costs of the cross-appeal. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE – Personal injury – Causation – Physical and psychological injuries – Multiple possible causes of injury – Appellate intervention in the provisional assessment of damages COSTS – Indemnity costs – Offers of compromise Rule 42.15A of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) – Discretion to "order otherwise" Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5D(1), 13(2) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 20.26, 42.15A Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes [2012] NSWCA 244; (2012) 61 MVR 443 Barakat v Bazdarova (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 140 Berkeley Challenge Pty Ltd v Howarth [2013] NSWCA 370 Boensch v Pascoe (2019) 268 CLR 593; [2019] HCA 49 Broadspectrum (Australia) Pty Ltd v Farmer [2024] NSWCA 81 Chen by her tutor Hung v Kmart Australia Ltd [2023] NSWCA 96 Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Francis Travel Marketing Pty Ltd v Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd (1996) 39 NSWLR 160 Hazeldene's Chicken Farm Pty Ltd v Victorian WorkCover Authority (No 2) (2005) 13 VR 435; [2005] VSCA 298 Hillier v Sheather (1995) 36 NSWLR 414 Hobartville Stud Pty Ltd v Union Insurance Co Ltd (1991) 25 NSWLR 358 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Housman v Camuglia (2021) 104 NSWLR 615; [2021] NSWCA 106 Insight Vacations Pty Ltd v Young (2011) 243 CLR 149; [2011] HCA 16 Jaycar v Lombardo [2011] NSWCA 284 John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson (2000) 203 CLR 503; [2000] HCA 36 Langdon v Carnival PLC t/as PO Cruises Australia (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 38 Langdon v Carnival PLC t/as PO Cruises Australia [2023] NSWSC 1406 Leach v The Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd) (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 391 Lee v Lee (2019) 266 CLR 129; [2019] HCA 28 Loxton v New South Wales [2002] NSWCA 194 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 264 CLR 541; [2018] HCA 30 Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantian Properties Pte Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 344 Morgan v Johnson (1998) 44 NSWLR 578 New South Wales Insurance Ministerial Corporation v Reeve (1993) 42 NSWLR 100 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith (No 2) [2015] NSWCA 268 Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99 Port Kembla Coal Terminal Ltd v Braverus Maritime Inc (No 2) [2004] FCA 1437; 212 ALR 281 Regie Nationale des Usines Renault SA v Zhang (2002) 210 CLR 491; [2002] HCA 10 Robinson Helicopter Co Inc v McDermott (2016) 90 ALJR 679; [2016] HCA 22 Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Smith (2017) 95 NSWLR 597; [2017] NSWCA 206 South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service v King [2006] NSWCA 2 The Commonwealth v Yarmirr (2001) 208 CLR 1; [2001] HCA 56 The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) t/as Northaven Retirement Village v Takacs (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 172 Union Shipping New Zealand Limited v Morgan (2002) 54 NSWLR 690; [2002] NSWCA 124 Vella v Permanent Mortgages Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 505 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531 Watiwat v Dixon [2018] NSWCA 48 Williams v Milotin (1957) 97 CLR 465, 474; [1957] HCA 83 Wilson v Peisely (1975) 50 ALJR 207 Texts Cited: M Davies, AS Bell, PLG Brereton, M Douglas, Nygh's Conflict of Laws in Australia, (10th ed, Lexis Nexis Butterworths, 2020) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Peter Langdon (Appellant/Cross-Respondent) Carnival PLC t/as P&O Cruises Australia (Respondent/Cross-Appellant) Representation: Counsel: RS McIlwaine SC with Ms ND Compton (Appellant/Cross-Respondent) CP O'Neill with MD Algie (Respondent/Cross-Appellant)