PARTRIDGE v. B.M.W. AUSTRALIA LIMITED & ORS. [1999] NSWCA 252

New South Wales Court of Appeal CITATION : PARTRIDGE v. B.M.W. AUSTRALIA LIMITED & ORS. [1999] NSWCA 252 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40123/97 HEARING DATE(S) : 21 April 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 19 August 1999

Roger Gary Partridge (Appellant) PARTIES : B.M.W. Australia Limited (1 Respondent) Tom Byrne Pty. Limited (2 Respondent) Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (3 Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Powell JA at 1; Beazley JA at 75; Stein JA at 76

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : DC 7653/94 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER : Sinclair DCJ

P.A. Johnson SC and P.M. Skinner (Appellant) COUNSEL : S.R. Donaldson (1, 3 Respondents) D.G.T. Nock SC and S.E. Torrington (2 Respondent) A.C. Boyle Neilson & Co. (Appellant) SOLICITORS : Minter Ellison (1,3 Respondents) Phillips Fox (2 Respondent) CATCHWORDS : CONTRACT - Sale of goods - Motor cycle - Manufacturer sells goods to Australian distributor - Australian distributor sells goods to dealer on receipt of order from dealer - Dealer delivers order to Australian distributor on receipt of order from purchaser - Purchaser not brought into contractual relationship with either manufacturer or Australian distributor; NEGLIGENCE - Manufacturer of goods - Distributor of goods - Liability for damage caused by goods purchased through dealer - Alleged latent defect in goods - Alleged defect in design of goods or in materials used in manufacture of goods; NEGLIGENCE - Proof of - Res ipsa loquitur - Throttle on motor cycle jamming while motor cycle being ridden at speed - Whether inference of negligence available; SALE OF GOODS - Conditions and warranties - Whether sale by description - Whether purchaser relied on seller's skill and judgment - Whether goods of merchantable quality DECISION : Appeal dismissed