RTA v Fletcher & Leighton Contractors [2001] NSWCA 63

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : RTA v Fletcher & Leighton Contractors [2001] NSWCA 63 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40039/99; 40059/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 07/08/00 JUDGMENT DATE : 26 March 2001

Appellant: Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW PARTIES : v 1st Respondent : Jeremy Andrew Fletcher 2nd Respondent:& Leighton Contractors Pty Limited JUDGMENT OF : Priestley JA at 23; Meagher JA at 1; Handley JA at 25

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT 7397/97 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Boland DCAJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

Appellant - M W Robinson COUNSEL : 1st Respondent - R C Tonner SC 2nd Respondent - R S McIlwaine SC Appellant - Crown Solicitor SOLICITORS : 1st Respondent - Phillips Fox Solicitors 2nd Respondent - Morton & Harris Solicitors CATCHWORDS : Tort - negligence - duty to erect warning signs - whether - road accident caused by failure to erect warning signs or driver's fatigue and failure to keep proper lookout - contributory negligence - apportionment of liability between concurrent tortfeasors - when appellate court may intervene with apportionment of liability - assessment of damages. Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : 1946 Sale of Goods Act (NSW) 1923 A V Jennings Construction Pty Ltd v Maumill (1956) 30 ALJ 100 Astley v Austrust Ltd (1999) 197 CLR 1 FAI General Insurance Co Ltd v A R Griffiths & Sons Pty Limited (1997) 71 ALJR 651 Florida Hotels Pty Ltd v Mayo (1965) 113 CLR 588 Hardaker v Idle District Council [1896] 1 QB 335 CASES CITED: Lambert v Lewis [1982] AC 225 Lister v Romford Ice & Coal Storage Co Ltd [1957] AC 555 Mayo v Florida Hotels Pty Ltd (1965) 65 SR (NSW) 41 Mowbray v Merryweather [1895] 2 QB 640 RTA v Scroop & Ors (CA unreported 30/9/98) The McGregor [1943] AC 197 Voli v Inglewood Shire Council (1963) 110 CLR 74 DECISION : Except for the sum of $4,860, appeal dismissed with costs.