Spencer v Balranald Shire Council [2002] NSWCA 102

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Spencer v Balranald Shire Council [2002] NSWCA 102 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40486/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 05/04/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 16 April 2002

Graham Edward Spencer, Mark Battistuzzi, Brendan Thomas Simpson and Barcod Pty Ltd (Appellants) PARTIES : Balranald Shire Council (1st Respondent) Raymond Edward Turner (2nd Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Young CJ in Eq at 2; Brownie AJA at 52

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Common Law Division LOWER COURT NR6000063/95 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Hulme J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

J D Hislop QC and A J Abadee (Appellants) COUNSEL : D G T Nock SC (1st Respondent) No appearance for 2nd Respondent (plaintiff) SOLICITORS : Burridge Harris & Flynn (A) Riley Gray-Spencer (1st R) CATCHWORDS : Appeals- When Court should interfere with apportionment made by Judge sitting alone. Torts- Negligence- Motor vehicle- Unexpected dust cloud- Agony of the moment- However circumstances justify finding of negligence. (D) British Fame v Macgregor [1943] AC 197 Brunskill v Sovereign Marine & General Insurance Co Ltd (1985) 59 ALJR 842 Chambers v Jobling (1986) 7 NSWLR 1 Cook v Hawes [2002] NSWCA 79 CASES CITED: Halvorsen Boats Pty Ltd v Robinson (1993) 31 NSWLR 1 Leishman v Thomas (1957) 75 WN (NSW) 173 Liftronic Pty Ltd v Unver (2001) 75 ALJR 867 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALJR 493 Zoukra v Lowernstern [1958] VR 594 DECISION : Appeal allowed in part. (1) In lieu of the judgment against each set of appellants for $118,890.11 there be substituted judgment for $87,186.08. (2) Each party shall bear his or its own costs of the appeal.