Nominal Defendant v Hall [2001] NSWCA 376

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Nominal Defendant v Hall [2001] NSWCA 376 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40087/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 26 September 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 26 October 2001

PARTIES : Nominal Defendant - Appellant Brett Edward Hall - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Stein JA at 2; Hodgson JA at 31

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 1130/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Certoma ADCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : L Morris QC/H Silvester - Appellant G B Hall QC/S Norton - Respondent SOLICITORS : Sparke Helmore - Appellant John D Hancock, Marrickville - Respondent CATCHWORDS : TORT - NEGLIGENCE - LIABILITY - motor vehicle accident - diesel oil spilt on road - EVIDENCE - conflicting evidence - credibility findings - whether a substantial body of evidence overlooked - whether had proper regard to evidence - EVIDENCE - finding of fact - critical issue - whether inference could be drawn - whether absence of reasoning - whether justice done or seen to be done - ND LEGISLATION CITED : N/A Beale v Government Insurance Office (1997) 48 NSWLR 430 CASES CITED: Devries v Australian National Railways (1992-1993) 177 CLR 472 Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725 Soulmezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 DECISION : 1) Appeal allowed with costs. 2) Judgment for the plaintiff below be set aside. 3) New trial ordered on liability. 4) Costs of the first trial to abide the second trial. 5) The respondent to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act if qualified.