The Owners - Strata Plan No 13218 v Woollahra Municipal Council [2002] NSWCA 92

Reported Decision : (2002) 121 LGERA 117

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : The Owners - Strata Plan No 13218 v Woollahra Municipal Council [2002] NSWCA 92 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40191/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 25 October 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 8 April 2002

PARTIES : The Owners - Strata Plan No 13218 (Appellant) Woollahra Municipal Council (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Powell JA at 1; Young CJ in Eq at 25; Rolfe AJA at 79

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Equity Division LOWER COURT ED 4273/00 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Windeyer J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : R S Toner SC (Appellant) P W Taylor SC and M K Meek (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Philip Densham White (Appellant) Phillips Fox (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : Torts- Nuisance- Negligence- Misfeasance- Damage caused by pressure-Liability on Council for roots of tree growing on footpath- On facts, Council liable. Procedure- High Court decision restating principles after decision at first instance- Effect on appeal. (D) LEGISLATION CITED : Roads Act 1993 Supreme Court Act 1970, s 75A(5) Asman v Maclurcan (1985) 3 BPR 9592 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 Bolton v Stone [1951] AC 850 Bourke v Sydney MC [1895] AC 433; (1895) 16 LR (NSW) 84 Bretherton v Hornsby SC (1963) 63 SR (NSW) 335 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 75 ALJR 992; 180 ALR 145 Buckle v Bayswater Road Board (1936) 57 CLR 259 Butler v Standard Telephones & Cables Ltd [1940] 1 KB 399 Calin v Greater Union Organisation Pty Ltd (1991) 173 CLR 33 Coverdale v Charlton (1878) 4 QBD 104 Cowley v Newmarket Local Board [1892] AC 345 Davey v Harrow Corp [1958] 1 QB 60 Delaware Mansions Ltd v Westminster CC [2001] 3 WLR 1007; 4 All ER 737 Eggins v Brooms Head Bowling & Recreational Club Ltd (1986) 5 NSWLR 521 Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 75 ALJR 992; 180 ALR 145 Gibson v Preston (Mayor) (1870) LR 5 QB 218 Gorman v Williams (1985) 2 NSWLR 662 Gorringe v The Transport Commission (1950) 80 CLR 357 Hoare & Co v McAlpine [1923] 1 Ch 167 Hurst v Hampshire CC (1997) 96 (Knight's) LGR 27 Indermaur v Dames (1866) LR 1 CP 274 Kirk v Culcairn SC (1964) 64 SR (NSW) 281 Lemmon v Webb [1894] 3 Ch 1; affd [1895] AC 1 McCombe v Read [1955] 2 QB 429 CASES CITED: Masters v Brent LBC [1978] QB 841 Meux's Brewery Co v City of London Electric Lighting Co [1895] 1 Ch 287 Moody v Woollahra (1913) 16 CLR 353 Morgan v Khyatt [1962] NZLR 791; affd [1964] 1 WLR 475 Papatonakis v Australian Telecommunications Commission (1985) 156 CLR 7 Piening v Wanless (1968) 117 CLR 498 Proprietors Strata Plan 14198 v Cowell (1989) 24 NSWLR 478 Pyrenees SC v Day (1998) 192 CLR 330 Richmond CC v Scantelbury (1988) 68 LGRA 49 Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory (1998) 192 CLR 431 Rose v Groves (1843) 5 Man & G 613; 134 ER 705 Rundle v Atarle [1898] 2 QB 83 Sedleigh-Denfield v O'Callaghan [1940] AC 880 Shelfer v City of London Electric Lighting Co [1895] 1 Ch 287 Slovin v Wise [1996] AC 923 Solloway v Hampshire CC (1981) 79 (Knight's) LGR 449 Stillwell v Windsor Corp [1932] 2 Ch 155 Torette House v Berkman (1940) 62 CLR 637 Turner v Ringwood Highway Board (1870) LR 9 Eq 418 Walsh v Erwin [1952] VLR 361 Western Suburbs Hospital v Currie (1987) 9 NSWLR 511 Wilson v Liverpool Corp [1971] 1 WLR 302 Wyong SC v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 Young v Davis (1862) 7 H & N 760; 158 ER 675 affd (1863) 2 H & C 197; 159 ER 82 DECISION : Appeal allowed (by majority). Finding of liability. Remitted to Equity Division to assess damages. Respondent to pay costs of the trial and of the appeal.