Godfrey v New South Wales [No 2] [2003] NSWSC 275

Reported Decision : (2003) Aust Torts Reports 81-700

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Godfrey v New South Wales [No 2] [2003] NSWSC 275 revised - 6/06/2003 HEARING DATE(S) : 10/3/03, 11/3/03, 12/3/03, 13/3/03, 14/3/03, 17/3/03, 18/3/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 9 April 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Shaw J DECISION : In matters 20344 and 20345 of 2000: (1) I declare that the defendant is liable for the injuries suffered by the plaintiff as a result of the failure to take effective measures to prevent Mr Hoole from escaping from Bathurst Gaol on 27 July 1990; (2) I enter judgment for the plaintiff; (3) I order that damages are to be paid in an amount to be assessed and; (4) I direct that the matters are to be placed in the next available list to be allocated a hearing date for this assessment; (5) The defendant is to pay the costs of the plaintiffs as agreed or assessed of the proceedings to date.

CATCHWORDS : Tort - Duty of care - liability of Department of Corrections for injuries caused following escape of prisoner from gaol - reasonable foreseeability - policy - special relationship - special knowledge - control LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 140(1) Ashrafi Persian Trading Co Pty Limited (t/as Roslyn Gardens Motor Inn) v Ashrafinia [2001] NSWCA 243; Bryan v Maloney (1995) 182 CLR 609; Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Limited v The Dredge 'Willemstad' (1976) 136 CLR 529; Caparo Industries Pty Limited v Dickman [1990] 2 AC 605; CSR Limited v Wren (1997) 44 NSWLR 463; Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562; Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Limited v Ryan [2002] HCA 54; Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire [1989] 1 AC 53; Home Office v Dorset Yacht Co Limited [1970] AC 1004; Jaensch v Coffey (1984) 155 CLR 549; K v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2002] EWCA Civ 775; March v E & M H Stramare Pty Limited (1991) 171 CLR 507; Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Limited v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254; CASES CITED : Mount Isa Mines Limited v Pusey (1970) 125 CLR 383; Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council [2003] NSWSC 49; Palmer v Tees Health Authority and Hartlepool and East Durham NHS Trust (Lloyd's Law Reports, 2 July 1999); Proprietors of Strata Plan 17226 v Drakulic [2002] NSWCA 381; Pyrenees Shire Council v Day (1998) 192 CLR 330; Romeo v Conservation Commission (1998) 192 CLR 431; Smith v Leurs (1945) 70 CLR 256; Smith v Littlewoods Organisation Limited [1987] 1 AC 241; State of New South Wales v Napier [2002] NSWCA 402; Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562; Tame v NSW (2002) 76 ALJR 348; Thorne and Rowe v The State of Western Australia [1964] WAR 147; WD & HO Wills (Australia) Limited v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1998) 43 NSWLR 338; Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40; Andrew William Godfrey (by his tutor Carol Ruth Godfrey) - Plaintiff PARTIES : Carole Ruth Godfrey - Plaintiff The State of New South Wales - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20344/00; 20345/00 COUNSEL : B Gross, QC with D Williams - Plaintiffs J Sexton, SC with D Kell - Defendant SOLICITORS : Carroll and O'Dea - Plaintiffs Crown Solicitor - Defendant