Newcastle City Council v McShane [2004] NSWCA 425

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Newcastle City Council v McShane [2004] NSWCA 425 HEARING DATE(S) : 22 October 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 1 December 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Sheller JA at 2; Giles JA at 14 DECISION : (1) Grant leave to appeal and direct that the notice of appeal be filed within seven days; (2) Dismiss the appeal; (3) Refuse leave to cross-appeal; (4) Appellant/opponent pay eighty-five per cent of the respondent/claimant's costs of the application for leave to appeal and appeal and the application for leave to cross-appeal.

CATCHWORDS : PERSONAL INJURY - footbridge in park blocked off by plastic mesh - plaintiff running for train at night - did not see mesh - fell and was injured - whether insufficient illumination - whether fact plaintiff not keeping proper lookout meant no duty of care - hazard created when defendant could have used more visible means of blocking footbridge - was duty of care - breach of duty of care - CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE - whether finding of contributory negligence open - DAMAGES - claim to buffer because injury could disadvantage plaintiff on open labour market - whether prospect of pecuniary loss from disadvantage established - no buffer. D Boroondara City Council v Cattanach [2004] VSCA 139; Borough of Bathurst v Macpherson (1879) LR 4 App Cas 256; Brodie v Singleton Shire Council; Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 206 CLR 512; Burwood Council v Byrnes [2002] NSWCA 343; Byrnes v Burwood Council [2003] HCA Trans 462; Fisher v Ruislip-Northwood Urban District Council [1945] KB 58; Greater Shepparton City Council v Davis [2004] VSCA 140; Junkovic v Neindorf [2004] SASC 235; K Mart Australia Ltd v McCann [2004] NSWCA 283; MacArthur Districts Motor Cycle Sportsmen Inc v Ardizzone [2004] NSWCA 145; McClelland v Manchester Corporation [1912] 1 KB 118; CASES CITED : Meurs v Taieri County (1954) NZLR 1081; Municipality of Pictou v Geldert [1893] AC 524; Newcastle City Council v Lindsay [2004] NSWCA 198; Nominal Defendant v Lane [2004] NSWCA 405; Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201; Podrebersek v Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALJR; 492 Richmond Valley Council v Standing (2002) 126 LGERA 237; State of New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536; Stoddard v Ashburton County [1926] NZLR 399; Temora Shire Council v Stein [2004] NSWCA 236; Webb v South Australia (1982) 56 ALJR 912; Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40. PARTIES : Newcastle City Council - Appellant Travis McShane - Respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40009/04 COUNSEL : P Garling SC & K Morgan - Appellant M Williams SC & G Beauchamp - Respondent SOLICITORS : Phillips Fox - Appellant Carroll & O'Dea - Respondent