State of New South Wales v Oliver [2006] NSWCA 124

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: State of New South Wales v Oliver [2006] NSWCA 124

HEARING DATE(S): 15 May 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 19 May 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Santow JA at 1; Tobias JA at 2; McColl JA at 3

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: NEGLIGENCE - prisoner on weekend detention - slipped on wet floor in toilet cubicle - floor left wet after cleaning - whether breach of duty of care - HELD - Yes. CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE - whether prisoner failed to keep a proper lookout - HELD - No.

Abalos v Australian Postal Commission [1990] HCA 47; (1990) 171 CLR 167 Chung v Anderson [2004] NSWCA 321 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 CASES CITED: Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory [1998] HCA 5;(1998) 192 CLR 431 Ellis v Home Office [1953] 2 All ER 149 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (In Liq) [1999] HCA 3;(1999) 73 ALJR 306 State of New South Wales v Napier [2002] NSWCA 402 The Owners of Strata Plan 63477 v Ross [2005] NSWCA 162 University of Wollongong v Mitchell (2003) Australian Tort Reports 81-708; [2003] NSWCA 94 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40

PARTIES: State of New South Wales - Appellant Shane Oliver - Respondent

FILE NUMBER(S): CA 40251/05

COUNSEL: D Davies SC and S Davis - Appellant I Harrison SC and R O'Neill - Respondent

SOLICITORS: I V Knight - Crown Solicitor - Appellant Napier Keen - Respondent