Kmart Australia Limited v Marmara [2024] NSWCA 249

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Kmart Australia Limited v Marmara [2024] NSWCA 249 Hearing dates: 19 September 2024 Date of orders: 21 October 2024 Decision date: 21 October 2024 Before: Kirk JA at [1] McHugh JA at [2] Griffiths AJA at [199] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE – Occupier's liability – precautions reasonably required to be taken by occupier of retail store – where customer injured by heavy oversized box containing mountain bike falling from another customer's shopping trolley – where no mandatory system preventing use of standard size shopping trolleys for heavy oversized items implemented by occupier – whether reasonable person would have implemented such a system requiring collection at the loading dock – whether lack of such a system was a necessary condition of the occurrence of harm Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 55, 79 Cases Cited: Ballina Shire Council v Moore [2023] NSWCA 155 Blatch v Archer [1774] EngR 2; (1774) 1 Cowp 63 [98 ER 969] Dasreef Pty Limited v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588; [2011] HCA 21 ELB Pty Ltd v Lumina BPO Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 91 GLJ v The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Lismore [2023] HCA 32; 97 ALJR 857; 414 ALR 635 Gordon v Lever [2018] NSWSC 1888 Herne Investments (NSW) Pty Limited v Don Watson Proprietary Limited [2016] NSWCA 72 Honeysett v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 122; [2014] HCA 29 Lang v R [2023] HCA 29; (2023) 413 ALR 389 Makita (Australia) Pty Limited v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Strong v Woolworths Ltd (2012) 246 CLR 182; [2012] HCA 5 Tapp v Australian Bushmen's Campdraft & Rodeo Association Ltd (2022) 273 CLR 457; [2022] HCA 11 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kmart Australia Limited (Appellant) Rita Marmara (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Windsor SC with J Hart (Appellant) R McIlwaine SC with R E Quickenden (Respondent)