Forbes v Selleys Pty Limited [2004] NSWCA 149

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Forbes v Selleys Pty Limited [2004] NSWCA 149 HEARING DATE(S) : 27 October 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 12 May 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Giles JA at 137; McColl JA at 138 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - product liability - causation - sudden illness after use of product - conflict among experts as to diagnosis and as to probable impact of particular chemical component (MDI) of product - possible cause not probable cause - treating doctor deferred to expert toxicologists as to critical scientific issue - trial judge's advantage - complex trial involving experts. (D) LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 76 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), Pt VA, s 75A, s 75AD, s 75AK Ahmedi v Ahmedi (1991) 23 NSWLR 288 Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 408 Betts v Whittingslowe (1945) 71 CLR 637 Chappell v Hart (1998) 195 CLR 232 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64 Forbes v Selleys Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 547 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22 CASES CITED : HG v The Queen (1999) 197 CLR 414 Jackamarra v Krakouer (1998) 195 CLR 516 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Murphy v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 94 Naxakis v Western General Hospital (1999) 197 CLR 269 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332 Seltsam Pty Ltd v McGuinness (2000) 49 NSWLR 262 TC by his Tutor Sabatino v The State of New South Wales & Ors [2001] NSWCA 380 Warren v Coombes (1970) 142 CLR 531 PARTIES : Charles Barstow Wright Forbes (Appellant) Selleys Pty Limited (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40640/02 COUNSEL : G. M. Watson SC/S.B. Loughnan (Appellant) M. T. McCulloch/D.F. Villa (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Matthews Folbigg (Appellant) Phillips Fox (Respondent)