Bhambra v Roet [2003] NSWCA 393

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Bhambra v Roet [2003] NSWCA 393 HEARING DATE(S) : 7 October 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 December 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Santow JA at 1; McColl JA at 52; Davies AJA at 53 DECISION : (1) Appeal allowed; (2) Verdict and judgment for the respondent set aside and in lieu thereof verdict and judgment for the appellants; (3) The respondent to pay the appellants' costs of the appeal and in the court below.

CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - Breach of Statutory Duty - Builder injured whilst renovating a house - Failure to erect safety rails - Failure to provide a safety-harness - Breach of statutory duty as owners and occupiers - Appellant disallowed from raising new matter on appeal - Whether appellant carried out construction work. LEGISLATION CITED : Construction Safety Regulations 1950 Almeida v Universal Dye Works Pty Ltd (2001) Aust Tort Reports 81-603 Bright v Sampson & Duncan Enterprises Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 346 H C Buckman & Son Pty Limited v Flannigan & Anor (1974) 133 CLR 422 Burston v Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (1948) 78 CLR 143 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 Kolodziejczyk v Grandview Pty Ltd (2002) Aust Tort Reports 81-673 CASES CITED : Maggiotto Building Concepts Pty Ltd v Gordon [2001] NSWCA 65 NRMA Insurance Ltd v B & B Shipping and Marine Salvage Co Pty Ltd (1947) 47 SR(NSW) 273 Paptonakis v Australian Telecommunications Commission [1985] 156 CLR 7 Stevens v Brodribb Saw Milling Co Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418 Water Board v Moustakas (1988) 180 CLR 491 Whisprun v Dixon (2003) 77 AJLR 1598 Bhupinder Singh BHAMBRA (First Appellant) PARTIES : Harbans Kaur BHAMBRA (Second Appellant) Pierre Jacobs ROET (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41208/02 COUNSEL : J D HISLOP, QC/ G A SEIB (Appellants) I HARRISON, SC/ J WILSON (Respondent) SOLICITORS : McCulloch & Buggy (Appellants) Lamond Howard & Associates (Respondent)