Temora Shire Council v Stein [2004] NSWCA 236

Reported Decision : 134 LGERA 407

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Temora Shire Council v Stein [2004] NSWCA 236 HEARING DATE(S) : 5 July 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 21 July 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Hodgson JA at 56; Pearlman AJA at 62 DECISION : (1) Appeal allowed; (2) Set aside the verdict and judgment for the respondent and the order for costs made on 14 November 2003; (3) Verdict and judgment for the appellant; (4) Respondent pay the appellant's costs of the trial and the appeal, and have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act if otherwise qualified.

CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - tripping case - raised edge of driveway across footpath - obvious in daylight to pedestrian taking reasonable care for own safety - plaintiff tripped at night - evidence of street light across road - no evidence of state of illumination of driveway or that plaintiff could not or did not see it - defendant owed duty of care - correct question whether in breach of duty - action or inaction of reasonable council to be assessed on basis of pedestrians taking reasonable care for own safety - whether plaintiff had burden of proof that driveway not visible to such a pedestrian (yes) - whether other matters made it a hazard which, acting reasonably, the defendant should have rectified (no) - not shown defendant failed to act reasonably - negligence not established. D Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512; Burwood Council v Byrnes [2002] NSWCA 343; Calfest v Tombleson [2003] NSWCA 210; Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389; Dunn v Star City Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 223; Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 206 CLR 512; Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540; CASES CITED : Liftronic Pty Ltd v Unver (2001) 179 ALR 321; Newcastle City Council v Lindsay [2004] NSWCA 198; Parramatta City Council v Watkins [2001] NSWCA 364; Parsons v Randwick Municipal Council [2003] NSWCA 191; Richmond Valley Council v Standing (2002) 127 LGERA 237; Smith v The Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd (1957) 97 CLR 337; Tame v New South Wales (2002) 211 CLR 317; Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40. PARTIES : Temora Shire Council - Appellant Yvonne Stein - Respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41125/03 COUNSEL : J E Marshall SC & P M Sibtain - Appellant M J Cranitch SC & M Inglis - Respondent SOLICITORS : Phillips Fox - Appellant Commins Hendricks - Respondent