Diamond v Simpson (No 3) [2003] NSWCA 373

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Diamond v Simpson (No 3) [2003] NSWCA 373 HEARING DATE(S) : 18, 19, 20 February 2003; 18, 19 June 2003 [Contribution Claim] JUDGMENT DATE : 16 December 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Ipp JA at 2; Young CJ in Eq at 3 DECISION : (1) Appeal allowed; (2) Declare that the cross defendant is liable to pay to the cross claimant one-half of the amount paid or payable to the plaintiff in respect of orders made against the cross claimant in these proceedings; (3) Liberty to apply to a Master to certify the amount of such amount if the same cannot be agreed; (4) Cross appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE- Hospital- Defective birth case- Scientific evidence- Whether hospital and doctor contributed to defective birth. Evidence Act 1995 LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946, s 5 Limitation Act 1969 Supreme Court Act 1970, s 75A(5) Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167 Adler v ASIC (2003) 46 ACSR 504 Ahmedi v Ahmedi (1991) 23 NSWLR 288 Benmax v Austin Motor Co Ltd [1955] AC 370 Bonnington Castings Ltd v Wardlaw [1956] AC 613 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541 Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd v Duffy (1943) 16 ALJ 374 Burrows v The March Gas & Coke Company (1870) LR 5 Ex 67 (Full Bench of Exchequer) Burrows v The March Gas & Coke Company (1872) LR 7 Ex 96 (Exchequer Chamber) Cohen v McWilliam (1995) 38 NSWLR 476 Davie v Lord Provost Etc of Edinburgh [1953] SC 34 Dearman v Dearman (1908) 7 CLR 549 Fox v Percy (2003) 77 ALJR 989 Hollman v Sampson [1985] 2 Qd R 472 The Koursk [1924] P 140 Lawrie v Meggitt (1974) 11 SASR 5 CASES CITED : Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd (1985) 156 CLR 522 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 596 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commssion (1995) 182 CLR 1 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164 R v GK (2001) 53 NSWLR 317 FF Seeley Nominees Pty Ltd v El Ar Initiations (UK) Ltd (No 2) (1990) 55 SASR 314 Seltsam Pty Ltd v McGuinness (2000) 49 NSWLR 262 Sharp v Avery [1938] 4 All ER 85 Shorey v P T Ltd (2003) 77 ALJR 1104 Simpson v Diamond [2001] NSWSC 150 Sinclair v William Arnott Pty Ltd (No 2) (1963) 64 SR (NSW) 88 Smith v Harris [1939] 3 All ER 960 State Rail Authority v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (1999) 73 ALJR 306 Tzouvelis v Victorian Railway Commissioners [1968] VR 112 The Volute [1922] 1 AC 129 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158 PARTIES : Robert Diamond (Appellant) Trustees of the Sisters of St Joseph (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40962/01 COUNSEL : P L G Brereton SC and I F Butcher (A) P Hall QC and S A Woods (R) SOLICITORS : Blake Dawson Waldron (A) Makinson & d'Apice (R)