ROADS AND TRAFFIC AUTHORITY OF NSW, COUNCIL OF THE SHIRE OF EVANS & PIONEER ROAD SERVICES PTY LTD v PALMER [2003] NSWCA 58

Reported Decision : (2003) Aust Torts Reports 81-693

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : ROADS AND TRAFFIC AUTHORITY OF NSW, COUNCIL OF THE SHIRE OF EVANS & PIONEER ROAD SERVICES PTY LTD v PALMER [2003] NSWCA 58 6 November 2002 HEARING DATE(S) : 7 November 2002 8 November 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 28 March 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Handley JA at 229; Giles JA at 235 DECISION : Appeal of RTA allowed with costs. Appeals of Council and Pioneer dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : TORT - Negligence - Duty of care - Liability of statutory authorities - Car accident at road works - Where funded by RTA, road owned by Council, work carried out by sub-contractor - TORT - Negligence - Causation - Where multiple possible causes - Where little evidence from plaintiff - CONTRACT - Indemnity clause - Relevant approach - Whether intended to cover Principal's own negligence - DAMAGES - Life expectancy - Where injury interacting with pre-existing disease - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - Amendment of grounds of appeal - Where pleading not pressed at trial. LEGISLATION CITED : Local Government Act 1993 Roads Act 1993 Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552 Australian Paper Plantations Pty Ltd v J & E M Venturoni [2000] VSCA 71 Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 408 Betts v Whittingslowe (1945) 71 CLR 637 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd (1992) 179 CLR 520 Chappel v Hart (1998) 195 CLR 232 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee (1999) 200 CLR 1 Darlington Futures Limited v Delco Australia Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 500 Davis v The Commissioner for Main Roads (1966) 117 CLR 529 Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services Ltd [2002] 3 WLR 89 Girlock (Sales) Pty Ltd v Hurrell (1982) 149 CLR 155 at 161-162 CASES CITED : Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan [2002] HCA 54 Holloway v McFeeters (1956) 94 CLR 470 Luxton v Vines (1952) 85 CLR 352 Multicon Engineering Pty Ltd v Federal Airports Corporation (1997) 47 NSWLR 631 Naxakis v Western General Hospital (1999) 197 CLR 269 O'Brien v Komesaroff (1982) 150 CLR 310 Pye v Renshaw (1951) 84 CLR 58 Pyrenees Shire Council v Day (1998) 192 CLR 330 Roads and Traffic Authority v Scroop (1998) 28 MVR 233 RTA v Fletcher & Leighton Contractors [2001] NSWCA 63 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418 Trevali Pty Limited v Haddad NSWCA, 16 November 1989 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) (1985) 59 ALJR 481 Valkonen v Jennings Constructions Ltd (SAFC, 29 November 1995, unreported) Water Board v Moustakis (1988) 180 CLR 491 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW (Appellant in No. 40217/02) Council of the Shire of Evans (Appellant in No. 40102/02) PARTIES : Pioneer Road Services Pty Ltd (Appellant in No. 40133/02)