Armstrong v Hastings Valley Motorcycle Club Ltd & Anor [2005] NSWCA 207

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Armstrong v Hastings Valley Motorcycle Club Ltd & Anor [2005] NSWCA 207

HEARING DATE(S): 11 March 2005

JUDGMENT DATE: 20 June 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Handley JA at 1; Beazley JA at 49; Hodgson JA at 50

DECISION: 1. Appeal allowed with costs; 2. Judgment of the Common Law Division set aside; 3. Order that there be a new trial of the action limited to the appellant's claim for damages for negligence at common law; 4. Liberty to apply to Handley JA on reasonable notice for orders under SCR Pt 51 r 23(5); 5. Respondents to have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act 1951

CATCHWORDS: STATUTORY DUTY - mere licensing provision - specific precaution for the safety of others not required - actionable statutory duty not created - STATUTORY DUTY - condition in statutory licence - actionable statutory duty not created - STATUTORY DUTY - administrative direction by public official - actionable statutory duty not created - D

Motor Vehicle Sports (Public Safety) Act 1985 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Motor Vehicle Sports (Public Safety) Regulation 1994 (NSW)

Australian Iron & Steel Ltd v Ryan (1957) 97 CLR 89 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co Ltd v Long (1957) 97 CLR 36 Day v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 110 CASES CITED: John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Canny (1981) 148 CLR 218 Leask Timber & Hardware Pty Ltd v Thorne (1961) 106 CLR 33 McDonald v Girkaid Pty Ltd (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-768 O'Connor v S P Bray Ltd (1937) 56 CLR 464

Gavin Armstrong (Appellant) Hastings Valley Motorcycle Club Ltd (First Respondent) PARTIES: Geoffrey Joseph Miles and Janice Dianne Miles (Second Respondents)