Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council & Ors [2003] NSWSC 49

Reported Decision : (2003) Aust Torts Reports 81-696

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council & Ors [2003] NSWSC 49 HEARING DATE(S) : 19/08/02, 21/08/02, 30/08/02, 02/09/02, 03/09/02, 04/09/02, 05/09/02, 06/09/02, 09/09/02, 30/09/02, 01/10/02, 02/10/02, 03/10/02, 08/10/02, 09/10/02, 10/10/02, 11/10/02, 14/10/02, 15/10/02, 16/10/02, 17/10/02, 18/10/02, 21/10/02, 28/10/02, 30/10/02. JUDGMENT DATE : 14 March 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Whealy J at 1 DECISION : I direct the entry of verdict and judgment for each defendant in relation to the plaintiff's claim. I order that the plaintiff pay the costs of each defendant. In relation to each cross-claim, I direct the entry of verdict and judgment for the cross-defendant. I order that the plaintiff pay the costs of the successful cross-defendant in relation to each cross-claim. The Exhibits may be returned.

CATCHWORDS : Negligence - public authority - shallow diving in creek - breach of duty - obviousness of danger - damages Crown Lands Act 1989 (as amended) Public Trusts Act 1897 LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 Motor Accidents Act Workers' Compensation Legislation Marine Parks Legislation March v Stramare (1991) 171 CLR 506 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Australian Safeways Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 at 488 Hackshaw v Shaw (1984) 155 CLR 614 at 662-663 Romeo v Conservation Commission (NT) (1998) 192 CLR 431 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 at 576 Barclay Oysters v Ryan (2002) HCA 54 Nagle v Rottnest Island Authority (1993) 177 CLR 423 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 at 44 South Australia v Wilmott (1993) 62 SASR 562 at 574 Capara Industries v Dickman (1990) 2 AC 605 at 617-618 Woods v Multi Sport Holdings Pty Ltd (2002) 76 ALJR 483 Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552 Prast v The Town of Cottesloe (2000) 22 WAR 474 The Mountain Cattleman's Association of Victoria Inc v Barren (1998) 3 VR 302 The Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources & Energy v Harper (2000) 1 VR 133 Waverley Council v Lodge (2001) 116 LGERA 447 at 460 Tame v New South Wales (2002) HCA 35 at para 102 Peere v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180 at 249 para 186 Rosenberg v Percival (2001) 205 CLR 434 at 456 para 68 CASES CITED : Inverell Council v Pennington (1993) Aust Torts R 81-149 Manly Municipal Council v Boylan (unreported, NSWCA 26 April 1995) Sourakis v Sutherland Shire Council (1992) Aust Torts R 81-149 Vozza v Tooth & Co Ltd (1964) 112 CLR 316 Shellenberg v Tunnell Holdings Pty Ltd (2000) 200 CLR 121 Chappel v Hart (1998) 195 CLR 232 per McHugh J at 247 Ellis v Wallsend District Hospital (1989) 17 NSWLR 553 at 560-561 at 579-582 The Public Trustee v Sutherland Shire Council (1992) Aust Tort R 81-149 61, 139 Insurance Commissioner v Joyce (1948) 77 CLR 39 Roggenkamp v Bennett (1950) 80 CLR 292 at 300 Beck v State of New South Wales (2001) NSWSC 278 at para 61 Sara v GIO of NSW (1969) NSW WN 203 Hadland v Council of teh City of Blacktown (unreported CA 21 May 1997) Podrebersek v Australia Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALR 492 per Gibbs CJ, Mason, Wilsn Brennan and Deane JJ at 494 Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1997) 139 CLR 161 van Gervan v Fenton (1992) 175 CLR 327 Kars v Kars (1996) 187 CLR 354 at 369-370 Grincellis v House (2000) 201 CLR 321 at 327 Barisic v Devenport (1978) 2 NSWLR 111 at 125 Simpson v Diamond & Anor [2001] NSWSC 925 at paras 848-858 Nominal Defendant v Gardikiotis (1996) 186 CLR 49 at 52, 54, 57, 62 and 67 Shirt v Wyong Shire Council (1978) 1 NSWLR 631 at 639G PARTIES : Garry Sean Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council & Ors FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20113/00 Mr B. Murray QC; Mr J. Meadley - Plaintiff COUNSEL : Mr M. McCulloch - 1st Defendant Mr J. Maconachie QC; Mr B. Green - 2nd-5th Defendants Martin Bell & Co - Plaintiff SOLICITORS : Phillips Fox - 1st Defendant I.V. Knight - Crown Solicitor - 2nd-5th Defendants