Barry Edward McDonald (t/as B.E. McDonald Transport) v Girkaid Pty Ltd & 4 Ors; Robert Bryce & Co Ltd v Girkaid Pty Ltd & 4 Ors; Hudson Resources Pty Ltd & 5 Ors v Robert Bryce & Co Ltd [2004] NSWCA 297

Reported Decision : (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-768

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Barry Edward McDonald (t/as B.E. McDonald Transport) v Girkaid Pty Ltd & 4 Ors; Robert Bryce & Co Ltd v Girkaid Pty Ltd & 4 Ors; Hudson Resources Pty Ltd & 5 Ors v Robert Bryce & Co Ltd [2004] NSWCA 297 HEARING DATE(S) : 16 June 2003 17 June 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 31 August 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Beazley JA at 1; McColl JA at 2; Young CJ in Eq at 240 DECISION : McDonald's appeal: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Judgment entered by Adams J on 8 March 2002 on Girkaid and Inghams' claim set aside. (3) Girkaid and Inghams' claim dismissed. (4) Girkaid and Inghams to pay McDonald's costs of the appeal and of the proceedings below including such costs as McDonald is ordered to pay to Bryce, Hudson and SLE. Hudson's appeal: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Judgments against Hudson set aside. (3) Cross-claims against Hudson dismissed. (4) McDonald to pay Hudson's costs of the appeal and of the proceedings below. Bryce's appeal: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Orders 4 to 7 inclusive, 12 and 15 of Adams J's orders of 8 March 2002 set aside. (3) McDonald's cross-claim against Bryce dismissed. (4) McDonald to pay Bryce's costs of the appeal and of the proceedings below. SLE's cross-appeals: (1) Cross-appeals dismissed. (2) McDonald to pay SLE's costs of the cross-appeals.

CATCHWORDS : CAUSATION - whether conclusion of causation open - inference of probable connection - expert evidence of possible cause of fire - absence of scientific theory refuting scientific theory advanced by plaintiffs - sequence of events - APPEAL - evidence - appellate review of trial judge's acceptance of expert witness - STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION - whether Dangerous Goods Regulation 1978 (NSW) created private cause of action - whether statute imposes a duty to take specific precautions or measures for the safety of others - no private cause of action where statute prescribes the end but not the means - content of statutory duty - whether absolute obligations imposed - what constitutes "practicable steps" or "practicable precautions" - BREACH - foreseeability - DAMAGES - evidence of value. (D) Dangerous Goods Act 1975 (NSW) s 4 Dangerous Goods (General) Regulation 1999 s 341(1) LEGISLATION CITED : Dangerous Goods Regulation 1978 (NSW) clauses 4, 16, 18, 18(e), 19(e), 19(g), 31, 248, 249(3), Schedule 1 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 30 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) s 5 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 52, s 53(a), s 87 Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167 Adelaide Stevedoring Co Ltd v Forst (1940) 64 CLR 538 Adsett v K & L Steelfounders and Engineers Ltd [1953] 1 WLR 773; [1953] 2 All ER 320 Ahmedi v Ahmedi (1991) 23 NSWLR 288 Astley v Austrust Limited [1999] HCA 6; (1999) 197 CLR 1 Australian Iron and Steel Pty Limited (1957) 97 CLR 89 Beckwith v The Queen (1976) 135 CLR 569 Bennett v Minister for Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 408 Brear v British Paints Ltd [1978] 2 NSWLR 253 Bull v Attorney-General (NSW) [1913] HCA 60; (1913) 17 CLR 370 Byrne v Australian Airlines Limited (1995) 185 CLR 410 Chappel v Hart [1998] HCA 55; (1998) 195 CLR 232 Chugg v Pacific Dunlop Limited (1990) 170 CLR 249 Commercial Union Assurance Co of Aust Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 Commissioner of State Revenue (Vic) v Royal Insurance Australia Ltd (1994) 182 CLR 51 Commonwealth v McLean (1996) 41 NSWLR 389 Dovuro Pty Limited v Wilkins [2003] HCA 51; (2003) 77 ALJR 1706 Dovuro Pty Limited v Wilkins [2000] FCA 1902; (2000) 105 FCR 476 EMI (Australia) Ltd v Bes [1970] 2 NSWR 238 F D R Pty Ltd v Gilmore; Gilmore v Cecil Bros (1998) 80 IR 411 Fernandez v Tubemakers [1975] 2 NSWLR 190 Forbes v Selleys Pty Limited [2004] NSWCA 149 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 General Constructions Pty Ltd v Peterson (1962) 108 CLR 251 Girkaid Pty Limited & 1 Ors v McDonald & Ors [2001] NSWSC 1202 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Limited v Ryan [2002] HCA 54; (2002) 211 CLR 540 ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2004] NSWCA 55; (2004) 1 DDCR 259 He Kaw Teh v R (1985) 157 CLR 523 Jayne v National Coal Board [1963] 2 All ER 220 John Pfeiffer Pty Limited v Canny (1981) 148 CLR 218 CASES CITED : J Sperling Ltd v Bradshaw [1956] 2 All ER 121 M38/2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCAFC 131; (2003) 199 ALR 290 Makita (Australia) Pty Limited v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Maloney v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1978) 52 ALJR 292 March & E & M H Stramare Pty Limited (1991) 171 CLR 506 Marks v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd [1998] HCA 69; (1998) 196 CLR 494 Marshall v Lindsay County Council [1935] 1 KB 516 Murphy v Farmer (1988) 165 CLR 19 Nicholson v Heaven & Earth Gallery Pty Ltd (1994) 126 ALR 233 O'Connor v S P Bray Limited (1937) 56 CLR 464 Overseas Tankship (UK) Limited v Miller Steamship Co Pty Limited (The Wagon Mound [No 2]) [1967] 1 AC 617 Overseas Tankship (UK) Ltd v Morts Dock & Engineering Co Ltd [No 1] ("The Wagon Mound") [1961] AC 388 Pioneer Concrete Services Ltd v Yelnah Pty Ltd (1986) 5 NSWLR 254 R v Stanley John Miller [2001] NSWCCA 209; (2001) 127 A Crim R 344 Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479 Rosenberg v Percival [2001] HCA 18; (2001) 205 CLR 434 Seltsam Pty Limited v McGuiness [2000] NSWCA 29; (2000) 49 NSWLR 262 Sheen v Fields Pty Limited (1984) 58 ALJR 93 Shorey v PT Limited [2003] HCA 27; (2003) 77 ALJR 1104 Slivak v Lurgi (Australia) Pty Limited [2001] HCA 6; (2001) 205 CLR 304 Storozuk v Commissioner for Railways (1963) 63 SR (NSW) 581 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 Tubemakers of Australia Ltd v Fernandez (1976) 50 ALJR 720 Uebergang v Australian Wheat Board (1980) 145 CLR 266 Utah Construction & Engineering Pty Limited v Pataky [1966] AC 629 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531 Waugh v Kippen (1986) 160 CLR 156 Wilsher v Essex Area Health Authority [1988] AC 1074 Wright v T I L Services Pty Limited (1956) SR (NSW) 413 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 X and Y (by her Tutor X) v Pal (1991) 23 NSWLR 26 CA 40215 of 2002