Davis v Nolras Pty Ltd (previously known as Sarlon Pty Ltd) [2005] NSWCA 379

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Davis v Nolras Pty Ltd (previously known as Sarlon Pty Ltd) [2005] NSWCA 379

HEARING DATE(S): 31/10/05

JUDGMENT DATE: 16 December 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Ipp JA at 1; Campbell AJA at 2; Brereton J at 59

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: NEGLIGENCE - occupier's liability - injury sustained by employee of specialised independent contractor - whether occupier had reasonably responded to risk of harm that existed - whether occupier had sufficient relevant knowledge of risk for imposition of a duty to warn - whether occupier entitled to rely solely on specialised independent contractor in safeguarding employees from defects in premises in contractor's area of expertise - Papatonakis v Australian Telecommunications Commission applied. D

Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 Bates v Parker [1953] 2 QB 231 Bond v SA Railway Commissioners (1923) 33 CLR 273 Christmas v General Cleaning Contractors [1952] 1 KB 141 Edmonds v Commonwealth (1961) 61 SR (NSW) 527 Felk Industries Pty Ltd v Mallet [2005] NSWCA 111 Ferguson v Welsh [1987] 1 WLR 1553 CASES CITED: Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540 Jones v Bartlett (2000) 205 CLR 166 London Graving Dock Ltd v Horton [1951] AC 737 Papatonakis v Australian Telecommunications Commission (1985) 156 CLR 7 Phillis v Daly (1988) 15 NSWLR 65 Roles v Nathan [1963] 1 WLR 1117 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40