Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305

[2001] ACL Rep 195 NSW 69 Reported Decision : [2001] ACL Rep 300 NSW 74 52 NSWLR 705

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305 revised - 17/09/2001 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40357/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 20 July 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 14 September 2001

PARTIES : Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd (Appellant) Vicki Jane Sprowles (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Priestley JA at 1; Powell JA at 8; Heydon JA at 23

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court LOWER COURT SC 20841/97 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT James J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Mr J D Hislop QC/Mr P M Morris (Appellant) Mr L King SC/Mr C P Heazlewood (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Moray & Agnew (Appellant) Shephard & Shephard (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : Torts - Negligence - Liability - Slip and Fall - Whether employer failed to provide a safe means of access between car park and offices - Whether stairs slippery - Whether expert evidence on slipperiness of stairs should have been accepted by trial judge - Discussion in obiter dicta about credibility of party-witness - Where employee injured whilst walking between roof-top car park and office - Where lack of previous slipping accidents on stairs - Evidence - Opinion - Expert evidence - Admissibility and use - Discussion of common law and statutory requirements - Need for expert witness to reveal factual and intellectual basis of opinion - Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80 - D Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Suitors Fund Act 1951 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167 Agbaba v Witter (1977) 51 ALJR 503 Arnotts Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1990) 24 FCR 313 Bell v F S & U Industrial Benefit Society Ltd (unreported, Supreme Court of NSW, 9 September 1987) Bollock v Wellington (1996) 15 WAR 1 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 75 ALJR 992 Bugg v Day (1949) 79 CLR 442 Clark v Ryan (1960) 103 CLR 486 Clough v Tameside and Glossop Health Authority [1998] 2 All ER 971 Davie v The Lord Provost, Magistrates and Councillors of the City of Edinburgh 1953 SC 34 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 English Exporters (London) Ltd v Eldonwall Ltd [1973] Ch 415 HG v R (1999) 197 CL 414 Holtman v Sampson [1985] 2 Qd R 472 Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd [2001] NSWSC 123 Lewis v R (1987) 88 FLR 104 Malco Engineering Pty Ltd v Ferreria (1994) 10 NSWCCR 117 Ocean Marine Mutual Insurance Association (Europe) OV v Jetopay Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 1463 O'Kelly Holdings Pty Ltd v Dalrymple Holdings Pty Ltd (1993) 45 FCR 145 CASES CITED: National Justice Compania Naviera SA v Prudential Assurance Co Ltd ("The Ikarian Reefer") [1993] 2 Lloyd's Rep 68 Paric v John Holland Constructions Pty Ltd [1984] 2 NSWLR 505 Paric v John Holland (Constructions) Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALJR 844 Pownall v Conlan Management Pty Ltd (1995) 12 WAR 370 R v Fowler 39 SASR 440 R v Gilfoyle [2001] 2 Cr App R 57 R v Jenkins; ex parte Morrison [1949] VLR 277 R v Kotzmann [1999] 2 VR 123 R v Lucas [1992] 2 VR 108 R v Murphy (1837) 8 C & P 297 R v Parker [1912] VLR 152 R v Turner [1975] QB 834 Re B (A Minor) (Care: Expert Witnesses) [1996] 1 FLR 667 Ramsay v Watson (1961) 108 CLR 642 Rosenberg v Percival (2001) 75 ALJR 734 Sheen v Bumpstead (1862) 1 H & C 358 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (In Liq) (1999) 160 ALR 588 Steffen v Ruban [1966] 2 NSWR 622 Trade Practices Commission v Arnotts Ld (No 5) (1990) 21 FCR 324 ULV Pty Ltd v Scott (1990) 19 NSWLR 190 DECISION : See para 110