Kain v Council of the City of Wagga Wagga [2007] NSWDC 163

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Kain v Council of the City of Wagga Wagga [2007] NSWDC 163

HEARING DATE(S): 28, 29, 30 and 31 May 2007 at Wagga Wagga

JUDGMENT DATE: 19 July 2007

JURISDICTION: District Court - Civil Jurisdiction

JUDGMENT OF: Johnstone DCJ at 1

DECISION: Judgment for the plaintiff for $203,982.75; Defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs, on the ordinary basis up to 24 August 2006, and thereafter on an indemnity basis

CATCHWORDS: Negligence - council occupier of the Hampden Bridge - plaintiff fell through a gap in a wooden walkway, at night - whether risk obvious - whether plaintiff intoxicated - foreseeability and breach of duty of care - contributory negligence of plaintiff, apportioned at 25% - Damages - pre-existing bi-polar condition

LEGISLATION CITED: Civil Liability Act 2002: s 5F, s 5G, s 5H, s 16(3), s 42, s 50

Barisic v Devenport [1978] 2 NSWLR 111 British Fame (Owners) v Macgregor (Owners) (1943) AC 197 at 201 Caledonian Collieries Ltd v Speirs [1957] HCA 14 at [12] C G Maloney Pty Ltd v Hutton-Potts [2006] NSWCA 136 at [112] Knight v McLean [2002] NSWCA 314 at [61] CASES CITED: Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Limited (1985) 59 ALR 529 at 532-3 Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory [1998] HCA 5 at [128] Sheldrick v State of New South Wales [2007] NSWCA 105 at [53] Skulander v Willoughby City Council [2007] NSWCA 116 at [89] Thomson v Bankstown Corporation (1953) 87 CLR 619 at 630 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1979-80) 48 CLR 40 at pages 47 – 48