Dunn v Star City Pty Limited [2004] NSWCA 223

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Dunn v Star City Pty Limited [2004] NSWCA 223 HEARING DATE(S) : 28 June 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 9 July 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Tobias JA at 2; Bryson JA at 68 DECISION : (a) Appeal allowed; (b) Set aside the verdict, judgment and order made by Naughton DJC on 4 August 2003; (c) In lieu thereof, judgment for the appellant on the issue of liability; (d) Order that the proceedings be remitted to the District Court of New South Wales for the assessment of damages only; (e) Order that the respondent pay the costs of the appellant in the court below and the costs of the appeal and, with respect to the latter, to have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act 1951 if otherwise qualified

CATCHWORDS : TORTS - Negligence - Hidden Danger - Mat in foyer - Obscured - Distractions - Whether mat ought to have been anticipated - Magnitude of risk - Probability of occurrence - TORTS - Contributory negligence - Whether foreseeable - EVIDENCE - Jones v Dunkel inference - Whether explanation warranted - No explanation provided - Witness available LEGISLATION CITED : (No legislation cited) Bardsley v Batemans Bay Bowling Club Limited, NSWCA, 25 November 1996 (unreported) Daily v Spot-On Investments Pty Ltd (1995) Aust Torts Reports 81-363 Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Gorman v Williams (1985) 2 NSWLR 662 Jaenka v Hinton (1995) Aust Torts Reports 81-368 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Joslyn v Berryman (2003) 77 ALJR 1233 CASES CITED : Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Phillis v Daly (1988) 15 NSWLR 65 Romeo v Conservation Commission (Northern Territory) (1998) 192 CLR 431 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Limited (2000) 200 CLR 121 Stannus v Graham (1994) Aust Torts Reports 81-293 Van Der Sluice v Display Craft Pty Limited [2002] NSWCA 204 Western Suburbs Hospital v Currie (1987) 9 NSWLR 511 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1981) 146 CLR 41 PARTIES : Janice Dunn Star City Pty Limited FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40747/03 COUNSEL : A: A Blacket SC/ J Butcher R: G Graham SOLICITORS : A: Marsdens Law Group, Sydney R: Cutler Hughes & Harris Lawyers, Sydney