Goodrich Aerospace Pty Limited v Arsic [2006] NSWCA 187

Reported Decision : 66 NSWLR 186

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Goodrich Aerospace Pty Limited v Arsic [2006] NSWCA 187

HEARING DATE(S): 07/07/06

JUDGMENT DATE: 18 July 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Mason P at 1; Ipp JA at 2; Tobias JA at 126

DECISION: (1) The orders made by Ainslie-Wallace DCJ are set aside (2) The issue of liability is to be remitted to the District Court for retrial (3) The damages assessed by Ainslie-Wallace DCJ are reduced by $1,755.00 to $201,522.96 (4) The costs of the trial are costs in the cause (5) Mr Arsic is to pay Goodrich the costs of the appeal (6) Mr Arsic is granted a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) if otherwise qualified.

CATCHWORDS: COURTS AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM - appeals against findings of fact - role of demeanour findings - witnesses from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds - role of probabilities and consistency with other evidence - failure to examine all material facts relevant to an issue - adequacy of reasons - explaining demeanour findings. D

LEGISLATION CITED: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 15A(1) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151Z(2)

Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167 CSR Limited v Della Maddalena (2006) 80 ALJR 458 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 Maricic v Dalma Formwork (Australia) Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 174 CASES CITED: Societe d'Advances Commerciales (Societe Anonyme Egyptienne) v Merchants' Marine Insurance Co (The "Palitana") (1924) 20 LI L Rep 140 SRA (NSW) v Earthline Constructions Pty Limited (In Liq) (1999) 73 ALJR 306 SS Hontestroom v SS Sagaporack (1927) AC 37 Trawl Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v Effem Foods Pty Ltd (1992) 27 NSWLR 326 Walden v Black [2006] NSWCA 170 Waterways Authority v Fitzgibbon (2005) 79 ALJR 1816