Anderson v Hotel Capital Trading Pty Limited [2003] NSWSC 1195

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Anderson v Hotel Capital Trading Pty Limited [2003] NSWSC 1195 HEARING DATE(S) : 3.2.03 - 7.2.03, 10.2.03 - 14.2.03, 17.2.03 - 21.2.03, 24.2.03, 27.2.03, 11.3.03, 9.5.03, 29.5.03, 30.5.03, 7.7.03 JUDGMENT DATE : 15 December 2003 JURISDICTION: Common Law JUDGMENT OF : Adams J at 1 DECISION : Judgment for the defendant with costs

CATCHWORDS : Negligence - causation - foreseeability - PTSD following armed robbery at hotel - whether employer negligent in not employing security guard - whether employee use of heroin with subsequent overdose and brain damage caused by PTSD - nature of decision to take heroin LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 s38 AMP v RTA & Anor [2001] NSWCA 186; [2001] Aust Torts Reports 81-619 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Grey v Simpson (unreported, NSWCA 3 April 1978 per Samuels JA Hamilton v Nuroof (WA) Pty Limited (1956) 96 CLR 18 per Dixon CJ at 25 CASES CITED : March v Stramare (1991) 171 CLR 506 at 517-518 Helton v Allen (1940) 63 CLR 691 at 714 Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 687 Rejfek v McElroy (1965) 112 CLR 517 at 521) Steven v Bodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16 at 45 Turner v South Australia (1982) 42 ALR 669 at 670 Leif Scott Anderson (Plaintiff) PARTIES : v Hotel Capital Trading Pty Limited FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20438/01 COUNSEL : Mr J Conomos QC with Mr A Kostopoulos (Plaintiff) Mr W K Dodd SC with Mr M Farkas (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Carneys Lawyers (Plaintiff) Bartier Perry (Defendant)