Brittain v The Commonwealth of Australia [2004] NSWCA 83

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Brittain v The Commonwealth of Australia [2004] NSWCA 83 HEARING DATE(S) : 11/03/2004; 12/03/2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 25 March 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Handley JA at 1; Tobias JA at 54; McColl JA at 55 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed with costs.; 2. Verdict, judgment and orders consequential thereon set aside.; 3. Cross-appeal dismissed with costs.; 4. Order a new trial of the action with a jury on all issues other than breach of the Commonwealth's duty of care to the plaintiff.; 5. Liberty to either party to apply to Handley JA on 14 days notice for orders under the SCR Pt 51 r 23(5).; 6. The appellant to file and serve written submissions on the appropriate order for the costs of the first trial within 10 days, and the Commonwealth to file and serve its written submissions on that question within a further 10 days.

CATCHWORDS : APPEAL and NEW TRIAL - issues of liability and damages linked - new trial limited to damages not appropriate - DAMAGES - causation - contributory cause sufficient - ND LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) General Motors-Holden's Pty Ltd v Moularas (1964) 111 CLR 234 Hampton Court Ltd v Crooks (1957) 97 CLR 367 Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638 MBP (SA) Pty Ltd v Gogic (1991) 171 CLR 657 CASES CITED : Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1 Pateman v Higgin (1957) 97 CLR 521 Quinn v Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd (1986) 6 NSWLR 586 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332 Simonius Vischer & Co v Holt & Thompson [1979] 2 NSWLR 322 PARTIES : Anthony Winston Brittain (Appellant) The Commonwealth of Australia (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40273/03 COUNSEL : F Douglas QC/A Melick SC/I Butcher (Appellant) C Branson QC/I McLachlan (Respondent) SOLICITORS : James Taylor & Co (Appellant) Australian Government Solicitor (Respondent)