Commonwealth of Australia v Elliott [2004] NSWCA 360

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Commonwealth of Australia v Elliott [2004] NSWCA 360 revised - 5/11/2004 HEARING DATE(S) : 16 July 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 8 October 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Hodgson JA at 90; Tobias JA at 91 DECISION : (1) Appeal allowed in part; (2) Set aside the judgment for the plaintiff against the defendant in the sum of $1,448,271.67; (3) In lieu thereof, judgment for the plaintiff against the defendant for such sum as the parties shall advise the Registrar as a result of their calculations in accordance with these reasons, such advce to be given within 14 days; (4) Liberty to apply in the event of disagreement over calculation of the substituted judgment, application to be made in the first instance by telephone to the Associate of Giles JA; (5) No order as to the costs of the appeal.

CATCHWORDS : Negligence - injury to knee - increased risk from directed task - whether causation could be found - causation properly found - damages - whether pre-existing condition- question of fact - judge misapprehended evidence - increased susceptability to injury - reconciliation of Watts v Rake and Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd - need for greater allowance for contingencies - differential allowances - allowances increased. D Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 408; Betts v Whittingslowe (1947) 71 CLR 649; Chappell v Hart (1998) 195 CLR 232; E M Baldwin & Son Pty Ltd v Plane (1999) Aust Torts Rep 81-499; Cook On Gas Products Pty Ltd v Kelly (1998) 29 MVR 415; Groves v The Commonwealth (1982) 150 CLR 113; Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; CASES CITED : Naxakis v Western General Hospital (1999) 197 CLR 269; Overland Sydney Pty Ltd v Piatti (1992) Aust Torts Reps 81-191; Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164; Seltsam Pty Ltd v McGuinness (2000) 49 NSWLR 262; Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158; Waverley v Bloom (1999) Aust Torts Rep 81-517; Wilson v Peisley (1975) 50 ALJR 207; Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40. PARTIES : Commonwealth of Australia - Appellant Craig Andrew Elliott - Respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41195/03 COUNSEL : R E Williams QC & B Skinner - Appellant H Shore SC - Respondent SOLICITORS : Australian Government Solicitor, Sydney - Appellant Thomas & Company, Sydney - Respondent