Gutman v McFall [2004] NSWCA 378

Reported Decision : 61 NSWLR 599

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Gutman v McFall [2004] NSWCA 378 revised - 3/11/2004 HEARING DATE(S) : 10 September 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 October 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Giles JA at 2; McColl JA at 71 DECISION : (1) Appeal allowed; (2) Set aside the plaintiff's judgment and order for costs against the first defendant and in lieu thereof order that there be judgment for the first defendant and that the plaintiff pay the first defendant's costs; (3) Set aside any judgment and order for costs in favour of the first defendant as cross-claimant against the second defendant as cross-defendant and in lieu thereof order that the cross-claim be dismissed and that the cross-claimant pay the cross-defendant's costs of the cross-claim; (4) Direct that within 21 days the appellant inform Mr Neumann by letter sent to his last known address of the result of the appeal and the orders in 3; (5) Liberty to apply within 14 days for any variation of or addition to the orders in 3 and 4; (6) Respondent pay the appellant's costs of the appeal and have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act if otherwise qualified.

CATCHWORDS : Vicarious liability - principle in Soblusky v Egan (1960) 103 CLR 215 - whether confined to motor vehicles - whether dinghy with outboard motor is motor vehicle for the purposes of the principle - reference to agency as basis for vicarious liability - consideration of Scott v Davis (2001) 204 CLR 33 - held yes and no. D Booth v Mister (1835) 7 Car & P 66; 173 ER 30; Chandler v Broughton (1832) 1 C & M 29; 149 ER 301; Christmas v Nicol Bros Pty Ltd (1941) 41 SR 317; Davis v Scott (1998) 71 SASR 361; Equipment Investment Pty Ltd v M J Downthwaite & Co Pty Ltd (1969) 16 FLR 23; Hewitt v Bonvin (1940) 1 KB 188; Jacobs v London County Council (1950) AC 363; Lake v Quinton (1973) 1 NSWLR 111; CASES CITED : Morgans v Launchbury (1973) AC 127; Moynihan v Moynihan (1975) IR 192; Ormrod v Crosville Motor Services Ltd (1953) 2 WLR 1120; Pawlak v Doucette (1985) 2 WWR 588; R v Thornton (1949) 96 Can Cr Cas 323; Samson v Aitchison (1912) AC 844; Scott v Davis (2001) 204 CLR 333; Soblusky v Egan (1960) 103 CLR 215; "Thelma" (Owners) v University College School (1953) 2 Ll L Rep 513; Wheatley v Patrick (1837) 2 M & W 650; 150 ER 917. PARTIES : Evian Gutman - Appellant James Anthony McFall - Respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40897/03 COUNSEL : J Glissan QC & A Reoch - Appellant I Harrison SC & T Hughes - Respondent SOLICITORS : Teakle Ormsby Conn - Appellant Stacks Goodchamp - Respondent