STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES v GODFREY & GODFREY [2004] NSWCA 113

Reported Decision : (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-741

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES v GODFREY & GODFREY [2004] NSWCA 113 HEARING DATE(S) : 10 February 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 7 April 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Sheller JA at 87; McColl JA at 88 DECISION : Appeal allowed

CATCHWORDS : Tort - Duty of care - liability of Department of Corrections for injuries caused following escape of prisoner from gaol - reasonable foreseeability - policy - special relationship - special knowledge - control - assumption of responsibility - extent of liability - vulnerability - conflict and coherence - remoteness. LEGISLATION CITED : Suitors' Fund Act 1951 Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552 Ashrafi Persian Trading Co Pty Ltd t/as Roslyn Gardens Motor Inn v Ashrafinia (2001) NSWCA 243 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Caterson v The Commissioner for Railways (1973) 128 CLR 99 Cattanach v Melchior (2003) 199 ALR 131 Cavey v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2002) EWCA CIV 775 Cran v New South Wales (2004) NSWCA 92 Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee (1999) 200 CLR 1 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540 Hill v The Chief Constable of West Yorkshire [1989] 1 AC 53 Hill v Van Erp (1997) 188 CLR 159 Home Office v Dorset Yacht Co Limited [1970] AC 1004 CASES CITED : Lamb v Camden London Borough Council [1981] 1 QB 625 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254 Palmer v Tees Health Authority and Hartlepool and East Durham NHS Trust [1999] Lloyd's Rep Med 351 Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1997) 198 CLR 180 Proprietors of Strata Plan 17226 v Drakulic (2002) 55 NSWLR 659 Reynolds v Katoomba RSL All Services Club Ltd (2000) 53 NSWLR 47 Smith v Leurs (1945) 70 CLR 256 Smith v Littlewoods Organisation Limited [1987] AC 241 State of New South Wales by its Department of Corrective Services v Napier (2002) NSWCA 402 Sullivan v Moody (2000) 207 CLR 562 Tame v New South Wales (2002) 211 CLR 317 The Home Office v Dorset Yacht Co Limited (1970) AC 100 Thorn and Rowe v State of Western Australia [1964] WAR 147 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 State of New South Wales PARTIES : Carol Ruth Godfrey Andrew William Godfrey by his next friend Carol Ruth Godfrey FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40377 of 2003 M.Sexton SC (Crown) J Sexton SC (Crown) COUNSEL : D Kell (Crown) B Gross QC (Respondent) D Williams (Respondent) SOLICITORS : IV Knight, Crown Solicitor (Crown) Caroll & O'Dea (Respondent)