FAUCETT v ST GEORGE BANK LTD [2003] NSWCA 43

Reported Decision : (2003) Aust Tors Reports 81-699

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : FAUCETT v ST GEORGE BANK LTD [2003] NSWCA 43 HEARING DATE(S) : 3 March 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 11 April 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Meagher JA at 2; Sheller JA at 3 DECISION : 1 Appeal allowed; 2 Set aside the verdict and judgment for the defendant; 3 In lieu thereof, verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $104,305 to take effect from 5 October 2001; 4 The respondent to pay the costs of this appeal and of the hearing at first instance.

CATCHWORDS : Negligence - Duty of Care - Bank - Duty to employee - System of delivery of cash - Security within bank - Level of protection required - Evidence - Expert opinion - Whether outside specialist knowledge - Ultimate issue LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 State of New South Wales v Seedsman (2000) NSWCA 119 Mannall v The State of New South Wales (2001) NSWCA 327 Chomentowski v Red Garter Restaurant Pty Ltd (1970) 92 WN (NSW) 1070 Maloney v Commissioner of Railways (1978) 52 ALJR 292 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254 Tame v New South Wales (2002) 76 ALJR 1348 CASES CITED : Greenland v Chaplin (1850) 5 Ex 243; 155 ER 104 R v GK (2001) 53 NSWLR 317 Allstate Life Insurance Co v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (No 6) (Court's 'Allstate' Judgment No 33) (1996) 64 FCR 79 Naxakis v West General Hospital (1999) 197 CLR 269 O'Brien v Gillespie (1997) 41 NSWLR 549 Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd (2000) 50 NSWLR 640 H G v The Queen (1999) 197 CLR 414 March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 PARTIES : Peta Faucett - Appellant St George Bank Ltd - Respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40316/02 COUNSEL : J P Gormly SC/B G McManamey - Appellant CRR Hoeben SC/S Flannigan - Respondent SOLICITORS : Turner Freeman - Appellant P W Turk & Associates - Respondent