Lepore v State of New South Wales & Anor [2001] NSWCA 112

[2001] Aust Torts Reports 81-609 Reported Decision : [2001] ACL Rep 300 NSW 64 52 NSWLR 420

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Lepore v State of New South Wales & Anor [2001] NSWCA 112 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40353/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 13 October 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 23 April 2001

Angelo Lepore (Appellant)

v PARTIES : State of New South Wales (First Respondent)

Trevor Alan Michell (Second Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Heydon JA at 66; Davies AJA at 127

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT 4645/94 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Downs DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

A: Dr A Morrison SC, Ms J Oakley COUNSEL : 1R: Mr P Menzies QC, Mr G Moore 2R: No Appearance A: Milicevic Solicitors SOLICITORS : 1R: I V Knight, Crown Solicitors 2R: Holt & Allen Solicitors CATCHWORDS : Negligence - non-delegable duty of care - school authority's duty of care towards school children - whether non-delegable duty of care covers intentional tortious conduct - sexual assaults by school teacher on children under his care - scope of non-delegable duty - Commonwealth of Australia v Introvigne (1982) 150 CLR 258. Ramsay v Larsen (1964) 111 CLR 16 Commonwealth of Australia v Introvigne (1982) 150 CLR 258 Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672 Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 520 Northern Sandblasting Pty Ltd v Harris (1997) 188 CLR 313 Scott v Davis [2000] 175 ALR 217; (2000) 74 ALJR 1410 Elliott v Bickerstaff (1999) 48 NSWLR 214 Richards v State of Victoria [1969] VR 136 El-Sheik v Australian Capital Territory Schools Authority (1999) 151 FLR 397 Australian Capital Territory Schools Authority v El-Sheik [2000] FCA 931 John James Memorial Hospital Ltd v Keys [1999] FCA 678 Geyer v Downs (1977) 138 CLR 91 Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Bathurst v Koffman (1996) ATR 81-399 Bazley v Curry (1999) 174 DLR 4th 45 Jacobi v Boys' and Girls' Club of Vernon (1999) 174 DLR 4th 71 ST v North Yorkshire County Council [1999] 1 RLR 98 X v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd (1987) 9 NSWLR 575 Wilsons & Clyde Co Ltd v English [1938] AC 57 CASES CITED: Leesh River Tea Co Ltd v British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd [1966] 1 Lloyd's Rep 450 Morris v C W Martin & Sons Ltd [1966] 1 QB 716 Davie v New Merton Board Mills Ltd [1959] AC 604 Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180 Photo Production Ltd v Securicor Transport Ltd [1980] AC 827 Lloyd v Grace Smith & Co [1912] AC 716 Poland v Parr [1927] 1 KB 236 Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd v Producers and Citizens Co-operative Assurance Co of Aust Ltd (1931) 46 CLR 41 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000) 176 ALR 411 Ryan v Fildes [1938] 3 All ER 517 Tepko Pty Ltd v Water Board [2001] HCA 19 Cassidy v Ministry of Health [1951] 2 KB 343 Watson v Haines (1987) ATR 80-094 Carmarthenshire County Council v Lewis [1955] AC 549 Liverpool City Council v Irwin [1977] AC 239 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of NSW (1982) 149 CLR 337 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 Rylands v Fletcher (1868) LR 3HL 330 Voli v Inglewood Shire Council (1963) 110 CLR 74 DECISION : Appeal allowed. See paragraph 65.