Townsend v Townsend [2001] NSWCA 136

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Townsend v Townsend [2001] NSWCA 136 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40344/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 24 April 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 11 May 2001

PARTIES : Carolynne Townsend - Appellant David George Townsend - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Hodgson JA at 81; Davies AJA at 90

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 8434/98 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT G S Hosking DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : G T W Miller QC & M A Clifford - Appellant B H Donovan QC with J O Anderson - Respondent SOLICITORS : Paul & Paul - Appellant Conway MacCallum - Respondent CATCHWORDS : INTENTIONAL TORT - plaintiff suffered compression fracture of vertebra - plaintiff said was lifted and thrown to the floor by defendant - defendant said he slipped and fell with plaintiff - trial judge not satisfied that plaintiff's account correct or that she had established deliberate conduct by the defendant - whether injury consistent only with plaintiff's account - whether other facts supported plaintiff's account or defendant's account - whether error shown in trial judge's assessment of facts. ND. Akins v National Australia Bank (1994) 34 NSWLR 155; Commonwealth Bank v Quade (1991) 178 CLR 134; Council of the City of Greater Wollongong v Cowan (1955) 93 CLR 435; CASES CITED: McDonald v McDonald (1965) 113 CLR 529; McLaughlin v Daily Telegraph Newspaper Co Ltd (No 2) (1904) 1 CLR 243; State Rail Authority of NSW v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (In Liq) (1999) 73 ALJR 306; Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531. DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.