Seiko Australia Pty Ltd v Da Rin [2001] NSWCA 84

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Seiko Australia Pty Ltd v Da Rin [2001] NSWCA 84 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41033/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 26 March 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 10 April 2001

PARTIES : Seiko Australia Pty Ltd - Appellant Eugene Da Rin - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Stein JA at 1; Giles JA at 2; Ipp AJA at 26

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 4018/98 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Gamble ADCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : S G Campbell - Appellant A J Bartley SC & F Toscano - Respondent SOLICITORS : Hunt & Hunt - Appellant Adrian F Guido & Co - Respondent CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - occupier - whether in breach of duty of care to entrant - entrant took short cut from car park down grassed bank to building - obvious and convenient pathways available - insignificant additional travel - no breach. RESTITUTION - defendant paid successful plaintiff - appeal then upheld - entitled to repayment - and interest. D Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479; Baulkham Hills Shire Council v Pascoe (2000) NSWCA 322; CASES CITED: Production Spray Painting and Panel Beating Pty Ltd v Newman (No 2) (1991) 27 BSWLR 659; Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory (1998) 192 CLR 431; TCN Channel 9 Pty Ltd v Antoniadis (No 2) (1999) 48 NSWLR 381; Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40. DECISION : Orders made on 26 March 2001 upholding the appeal, setting aside the verdict and judgment below and substituting a verdict and judgment for the appellant, and for the respondent to receive a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act if otherwise entitled. Order that there be judgment for the appellant for $162,526.12 in this Court.