SCALISE v BEZZINA & ORS [2003] NSWCA 362

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : SCALISE v BEZZINA & ORS [2003] NSWCA 362 HEARING DATE(S) : 5 August 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 12 December 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Santow JA at 106; Brownie AJA at 107 DECISION : Appeal upheld. See para 105 for further orders.

CATCHWORDS : Negligence - personal injuries - alternative statutory counts under Construction Safety Regulations - plaintiff fell from upper floor of building site - plaintiff's case that there was no fence rejected - plaintiff's case that any fence was defective not considered - rule in Browne v Dunn - sufficient if fair notice of alternative case raised by plaintiff in pleadings, opening and evidence in chief - not necessary for plaintiff to cross-examine all of defendants' witnesses on the point - new trial ordered on all issues (ND) LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Construction Safety Regulations regs 73 and 75 Archer v Richard Crookes Constructions Pty Ltd, (1997) 15 NSWCCR 297 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 (HL) Flower v Hart (a firm) v White Industries (Qld) Pty Ltd (1999) 87 FCR 134 Fox v Percy (2003) 197 ALR 201 HC Buckman & Son Pty Ltd v Flanagan (1974) 133 CLR 422 CASES CITED : James v Hudson (1955) AR 1047 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Khafam Developments Pty Ltd v Zeaiter, CA unreported 3 October 1996 Payless Superbarn (NSW) Pty Ltd v O'Gara (1990) 19 NSWLR 551 Stern & Anor v National Australia Bank Ltd (2000) 171 ALR 192 Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Sydney v Hogan (2001) 53 NSWLR 343 Voulis v Kozary (1975) 180 CLR 177 PARTIES : Pietro SCALISE v Ronald Joseph BEZZINA & Ors FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40579/2002 Appellant: D T Kennedy SC/ F V Fletcher COUNSEL : 1st Respondent: ACA Bridge SC/ SE Torrington 2nd Respondent: PW Neil SC/ DJ Hooke Appellant: Taylor & Scott SOLICITORS : 1st Respondent: Deacons 2nd Respondent: Nevill & Edwards