SUTHERLAND SHIRE COUNCIL v HENSHAW [2004] NSWCA 386

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : SUTHERLAND SHIRE COUNCIL v HENSHAW [2004] NSWCA 386 HEARING DATE(S) : 21/10/2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 10 December 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Hodgson JA at 18; Bryson JA at 24 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - highway - pedestrian injured by fall at hole in broken edge of asphalt paving on footpath - consideration of significance of observability of hazard - consideration whether duty of care owed if the hazard can be observed by pedestrian - extensive consideration of Brodie at [163] - Trial Judge's findings of negligence and no contributory negligence were reasonably available - appeal dismissed LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 s.10 Highways Act 1980 (U.K.) s.41 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council; Ghantous v Hawkesbury Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Searle v. Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board (1936) 13 LGR 115 Tame v New South Wales; Annetts v Australian Stations Pty Limited (2002) 211 CLR 317 Webb v. The State of South Australia [1982] 56 ALJR 912 Wyong Shire Council v. Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 Smith v. Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1957) 97 CLR 337 Miller v. McKeon (1905) 3 CLR 50 Liftronic Pty Ltd v. Unver (2001) 75 ALJR 867 Pelley v. The Maitland Benevolent Society [2004] NSWCA 323 Alford v. Magee (1952) 85 CLR 437. CASES CITED : Richmond Valley Council v. Standing (2002) 127 LGERA 237 Burwood Council v. Byrnes [2002] NSWCA 343 Rallis v. Pang [2003] NSWCA 202 Temora Shire Council v. Stein [2004] NSWCA 236 Newcastle City Council v. Lindsay [2004] NSWCA 198 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Limited v. Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540 Boroondara City Council v. Cattanach [2004] VSCA 139 Greater Shepparton City Council v. Davis [2004] VSCA 140 Almeda v. Attorney General for Gibraltar [2003] UKPC 81 Gorringe v. Transport Commission (Tasmania) (1950) 80 CLR 357 Thompson v. Hampshire County Council [2004] EWCA (Civ) 1016 Avenhouse v. Hornsby S.C. (1998) 44 NSWLR 1 PARTIES : Sutherland Shire Council - Appellant William Henshaw - Respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40104 of 2004 COUNSEL : P.R. Garling SC and K. Morgan - Appellant S. Norton SC and M. Fraser - Respondent SOLICITORS : Phillips Fox - Appellant Bryden's Law Office - Respondent