City Elevator Services Pty Limited v Burrows [2004] NSWCA 26

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : City Elevator Services Pty Limited v Burrows [2004] NSWCA 26 HEARING DATE(S) : 10 December 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 19 February 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Santow JA at 1; Tobias JA at 65; Palmer J at 66 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed; 2. Judgment of the trial judge of 28 February 2003 set aside and in lieu thereof judgment for the appellant; 3. The respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the trial and of the appeal and in respect of the letter, to have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act, 1951.

CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - liability in negligence - admissibility of expert's report - failure to make adjustments to lift mechanism prior to accident - was injury reasonably foreseeable - failure to address factors pertaining to duty of care in Wyong Shire Council v Shirt or by reference to industry standard. LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act s79 Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia Limited v Ferrcom Pty Limited (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 Giannarreli and Anor v the Queen (1983) 154 CLR 212 Makita (Australia) Pty Limited v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725 CASES CITED : R v Meier (Court of Criminal Appeal, 21 May 1996 - BC9601936, unreported) Smith v Bagias (1978) 21 ALR 435 Stirland v Director of Public Prosecutions [1944] AC 315 The Ritz Hotel Ltd v Charles of the Ritz Ltd (1988) 15 NSWLR 158 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 PARTIES : City Elevator Services Pty Limited (Appellant) Suzanne Burrows (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA CA 40197/03 COUNSEL : J E Maconachie, QC (Appellant) D J Russell, SC (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Deacons (Appellant) Shaw McDonald (Respondent)