ROADS AND TRAFFIC AUTHORITY v RYAN; BLUE MOUNTAINS CITY COUNCIL v RYAN [2005] NSWCA 34

Reported Decision : 62 NSWLR 609

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: ROADS AND TRAFFIC AUTHORITY v RYAN; BLUE MOUNTAINS CITY COUNCIL v RYAN [2005] NSWCA 34

HEARING DATE(S): 4 November 2004, 5 November 2004

JUDGMENT DATE: 15 March 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Mason P at 1; Sheller JA at 2; Bryson JA at 62

DECISION: Appeals and cross-appeals dismissed with costs. These costs to include the costs of both the first and second hearing in this Court.

CATCHWORDS: NEGLIGENCE - existence of common law duty of care - foreseeability - assessment of damages - whether damages should be assessed under Motor Accidents Act 1988 or under common law - contribution between tortfeasors - whether 'just and equitable' under s5 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 - whether contribution under common law damages should be capped by maximum liability under the Motor Accidents Act 1946 - EVIDENCE - admission of fresh evidence - whether evidence as to financial problems of council admissible on appeal

Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 Limitation Act 1989 Motor Accidents Act 1988 LEGISLATION CITED: Motor Accidents Amendment Act 1995 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act 1942 Railways Act 1914 (Queensland) Workers Compensation Act 1987

Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GSF Australia Pty Ltd (2003) 57 NSWLR 321 Andar Transport v Brambles [2004] 78 ALJR 907 Bitupave Ltd v Bollington (1998) 28 MVR 223 Booker v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (No 1) (1993) 31 NSWLR 393 Booker v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (No 2) (1993) 31 NSWLR 402 Bowtell v Goldsborough, Mort & Co Ltd (1905) 3 CLR 444 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Commonwealth of Australia v Flaviano (1996) 40 NSWLR 199 Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee (1999) 200 CLR 1 Dillingham Constructions Pty Ltd v Steel Mains Pty Ltd (1975) 132 CLR 323 Emad Trolley Pty Ltd v Shigar (2003) 57 NSWLR 636 Fell v Blue Mountains City Council [2003] NSWSC 17 Gunter v State Transit Authority of New South Wales [2004] NSWCA 330 Hughes v Hunters Hill Municipal Council (1992) 29 NSWLR 232 Johnson v Inverell Shire Council [2002] ACTSC 18 CASES CITED: Lanza v Codemo [2001] NSWSC 72 Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd (1985) 156 CLR 522 Nickels v Parks (1948) 49 SR (NSW) 124 O'Sullivan v Thai Airways International Ltd (1998) 28 MVR 469 Pledge v Roads and Traffic Authority (2004) 78 ALJR 572 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALJR 492 Pyrenees Shire Council v Day (1998) 192 CLR 330 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 Regie National des Usines Renault SA v Zhang (2002) 210 CLR 491 Roads and Traffic Authority v Scroop (1998) 28 MVR 233 Rouse v Shepherd (1994) 35 NSWLR 250 Stradling v Morgan (1560) 1 Plowd 199, 75 ER 305 at 312 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 Unsworth v Commissioner of Railways (1958) 101 CLR 73