Alam v Rail Corporation New South Wales [2008] NSWDC 265

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Alam v Rail Corporation New South Wales [2008] NSWDC 265 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 22, 23 October and 13, 21 November 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 26 November 2008

JURISDICTION: Civil

JUDGMENT OF: Gibson DCJ

(1) Judgment for the defendant. DECISION: (2) Plaintiff pay defendant's costs. (3) Liberty to apply, such liberty to be exercised within three months of the date of judgment. (4) Exhibits retained for 28 days.

CATCHWORDS: TORT - plaintiff caught in train doors attempting to enter train after warning signals - whether boarding train inherently dangerous - defendant not negligent - EVIDENCE - CCTV footage - whether admissible - whether evidentary value of limited or restricted nature

Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5S and 15 LEGISLATION CITED: Civil Liability Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (NSW), Schs 1 and 2 Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), Ch 5 and s 128(3) Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW), s 121

Allen v Tobias (1958) 98 CLR 367 Angel v Hawkesbury City Council [2008] NSWCA 130 Balasubramanian v Sara [1997] NSWCA 39 Beaton v McDivitt (1985) 13 NSWLR 134 BHP Pty Co Ltd v Mason and Anor (Supreme Court of South Australia, Debelle J, 7 November 1996, unreported) Blacktown City Council v Hocking (2008) Aust Torts Reports ¶81-956; [2008] NSWCA 144 Boyes v Collins (2000) 23 WAR 123; [2000] WASCA 344 Bridges v Pelley [2001] NSWCA 31 C Van der Lely NV v Bamfords Ltd [1963] RPC 61 Clark v New South Wales [2006] NSWSC 673 Dem Compagnie Pty Ltd v Telxon Australia [2004] NSWCA 66 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Ltd v Arsic [2006] NSWCA 187 Harrison v Melhem [2008] NSWCA 67 Hayes v Marquis [2008] NSWCA 10 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Joslyn v Berryman (2003) 214 CLR 552 CASES CITED: Mackenzie v Nominal Defendant [2005] NSWCA 180 Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 510 Morgan v Johnson (1998) 44 NSWLR 578 NSW Department of Housing v Hume [2007] NSWCA 69 People v Bowley 59 Cal 2d 855; 382 P 2d 591 (CA, 1963) Presidential Security Services of Australia Pty Ltd v Brilley (2008) 67 ACSR 692; [2008] NSWCA 204 R v Ames [1964-5] NSWR 1489 R v Lobendahn (1980) 5 Petty Sessions Review 2484 R v Travers (1958) 58 SR (NSW) 85 Schmidt v Schmidt [1969] QWN 3 Short v Barrett [1990] NSWCA 164 State v Pulphus 465 A 2d 153 (RI, 1983) Stillwell Trucks Pty Ltd v McKay & Ors [2002] NSWCA 292 Talbot-Butt v Holloway (1990) 12 MVR 70 Transfield Services (Australia) v Hall [2008] NSWCA 294 United States Shipping Board v The Ship St Albans [1931] AC 632 White v White [2004] NSWSC 208