Commonwealth of Australia v Ryan [2002] NSWCA 372

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Commonwealth of Australia v Ryan [2002] NSWCA 372 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40195/02 HEARING DATE(S) : 13 November 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 21 November 2002

PARTIES : Commonwealth of Australia - Appellant David William Ryan - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Beazley JA at 1; Giles JA at 2; Hodgson JA at 71

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Common Law Division LOWER COURT CLD 20844/96 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Newman AJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : R S McIlwaine SC & D J Brogan - Appellant F M Douglas QC & W D H Walsh - Respondent SOLICITORS : Australian Government Solicitor, Sydney - Appellant James Taylor & Co, Myrtleford, Victoria - Respondent CATCHWORDS : Damages - Melbourne/Voyager collision - plaintiff left Navy - claim for loss of pension entitlement - whether failure to direct jury as to loss of a chance - case not fought on that basis - fought as case of proof of loss on balance of probabilities - jury directed accordingly - no request for redirection - cannot now complain as to direction - whether open to jury to find loss of pension entitlement - on basis of proof of loss on balance of probabilities was open to jury - interest awarded by adoption of reasons in earlier case - whether failure to exercise discretion - adoption was exercise of discretion - whether error in exercise of discretion - no error identified or established. ND Daniels v Anderson (1995) 37 NSWLR 438; The Guildford [1956] p 364; Haines v Bendall (1991) 172 CLR 60; House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; McLean v The Commonwealth of Australia (Sperling J, 22 August 1996); CASES CITED: Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; Norris v Blake (No 2) (1997) 41 NSWLR 49; Reynolds v Katoomba RSL All Services Club Ltd (2001) 53 NSWLR 43; Ryan v The Commonwealth of Australia (1999) NSWSC 573; Singleton v Ffrench (1986) 5 NSWLR 425; Vardanega v Concrete & Terazzo Pty Ltd (CA, 22 October 1979, unreported); Wenkart v Pitman (1998) 46 NSWLR 502. DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.