University of Wollongong v Mitchell [2003] NSWCA 94

Reported Decision : (2003) Aust Torts Reports 81-708

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : University of Wollongong v Mitchell [2003] NSWCA 94 HEARING DATE(S) : 23/04/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 30 May 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Giles JA at 20; Gzell J at 43 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed; 2. Verdict and judgment below set aside; 3. Substitute a verdict for the defendant; 4. Order the respondent to pay the appellant's costs both of the trial and of the appeal, but to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act in respect of the latter.

CATCHWORDS : Occupier's Liability - Retractable theatre seats - Failure of occupier to erect signage - When failure to erect adequate signage actionable negligence - Extent of occupier's onus to warn of danger - Extent of duty of care - Whether Court of Appeal bound by its earlier decisions. Maudsley v Proprietors of Strata Plan 39794 [2002] NSWCA 244 Taylor Woodrow Property Co of Australia Pty Ltd v Coles Myer Ltd & Anor [1999] NSWCA 204 North Sydney Municipal Council v Harrison [2001] NSWCA 4 Trevor Howse Associates Pty Limited v Dessman (undelivered) Waverley Municipal Council v Lodge (2001) 117 LGERA 447 Waverley Municipal Council v Wagner (2002) 119 LGERA 167 RTA v McGuinness [2002] NSWCA 210 The Council of the Shire of Muswellbrook v Lettice & Anor; The State of NSW v Lettice & Anor [2000] NSWCA 359 Waverley Municipal Council v Swain [2003] NSWCA 61 Burns v Hoyts Pty Ltd [2002] Aust Torts Reports 81-637 CASES CITED : Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 at 488 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1981) 146 CLR 41 at 48 Tame v New South Wales (2002) 76 ALJR 1348 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254 Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory (1998) 192 CLR 431 Woods v Multi-Sport Holdings Ltd (2002) 208 CLR 460 Phillis v Daly (1988) 15 NSWLR 65 Wilkinson v Law Courts Ltd [2001] NSWCA 196 Holland v Jones (1917) 23 CLR 149 Nguyen v Nguyen (1989-1990) 169 CLR 245 at 268 Fobco Pty Ltd v Harvey (1996) 40 NSWLR 454 at 462 The University of Wollongong PARTIES : v Dianne Mitchell FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40427 of 2002 COUNSEL : A: J D Hislop QC & T McDonald R: G Little SC & S Longhurst SOLICITORS : A: Herbert Geer & Rundle R: Russell McLelland Brown