TAB LIMITED & ANOR v ATLIS [2004] NSWCA 322

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : TAB LIMITED & ANOR v ATLIS [2004] NSWCA 322 HEARING DATE(S) : 13/09/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 3 November 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Beazley JA at 12; Ipp JA at 13 DECISION : (1) Leave to appeal granted (2) Appeal upheld with costs (3) Set aside the judgment and verdict granted by Phegan DCJ (4) Grant judgment in favour of the claimants (5) Opponent to pay the costs of the trial (6) Grant a certificate to the opponent under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) if otherwise entitled.

CATCHWORDS : TORT - Whether duty to prevent harm brought about by the unlawful behaviour of a third party - Assault occuring in TAB agency - Occupier failing to control third party's continued presence on the premises - Scope of duty - Difference between error of judgment and negligence - impossibility of physical removal of threat without police assistance - Whether police should have been summoned - Causation. D Canterbury Municipal Council v Taylor [2002] NSWCA 24 Chordas v Bryant (Wellington) Pty Ltd (1988) 20 FCR 91 Club Italia (Geelong) Inc v Ritchie (2001) 3 VR 447 Cole v South Tweed Heads Rugby League Football Club Limited (2004) 78 ALJR 933 CASES CITED : Gordon v Tamworth Jockey Club [2003] Aust Torts Reports 81-698 Modbury Trianble Shopping Centre Pty Limited Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254 Oxlade v Gosbridge Pty Limited (unreported, NSWCA, 18 December 1998) Smith v Leurs (1945) 70 CLR 256 South Tweed Heads Rugby League Football Club Limited v Cole (2002) 55 NSWLR 113 Tame v State of New South Wales (2002) 211 CLR 317 TAB LIMITED (First Claimant) PARTIES : Francis Michael YOUNGMAN (Second Claimant) William ATLIS (Opponent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41005/03 COUNSEL : R Toner SC/M Barko (First & Second Claimants) S Gibb SC/ P A Regattieri (Opponent) SOLICITORS : TurksLegal (First & Second Claimants) Etheringtons (Opponent)