Rhoden v Wingate [2002] NSWCA 165

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Rhoden v Wingate [2002] NSWCA 165 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA CA 40757/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 16 May 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 21 June 2002

PARTIES : Jason Laurence Rhoden (Appellant) Lloyd Glen Wingate (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Heydon JA at 4; Pearlman AJA at 107

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 8345/00 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Gamble ADCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Mr R S Toner SC with Mr P L Formosa (Appellant) Mr R R Bartlett SC with Mr J M Morris (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Kells (Appellant) Abbott Tout (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : Tort - negligence - personal injury - collision between motorcycle and motor car - absence of direct testimonial evidence - difficulty of ascertaining relevant facts - Evidence - expert opinion evidence - Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 79 - expert reports - admissibility - requirement that opinion be based on assumptions capable of proof by admissible evidence - Practice - tendering of expert evidence - where called early in party's case - where not in satisfactory form - objections to evidence - time appropriately taken - appropriate procedure where objection taken after close of plaintiff's case - failure to follow - consequences - D LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act (NSW) 1995 Brown v Petranker (1991) 22 NSWLR 717 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 CASES CITED: Paric v John Holland (Constructions) Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALJR 844 Peacock v The King (1911) 13 CLR 619 Quick v Stoland (1998) FCR 371 Reg v Burns (1883) 9 VLR 191 DECISION : See paragraph 106