C G Maloney Pty Ltd v Hutton-Potts and Another [2006] NSWCA 136

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: C G Maloney Pty Ltd v Hutton-Potts and Another [2006] NSWCA 136 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 10 February 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 29 May 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Santow JA at 1; McColl JA at 167; Bryson JA at 169

DECISION: See paragraph [166]

CATCHWORDS: TORT – Woman falls and injures herself on recently polished floor where polish not visible – Whether hotel and cleaning company liable – apportionment of liability. - DAMAGES – Whether there was an "obvious risk" and if so what follows for the inadvertent plaintiff - In what way, if at all has the meaning of "obvious risk: and its consequences at general law been altered by the Civil Liability Act 2000 (NSW). - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Did the trial judge err in the exercise of his discretion regarding the awarding of costs – Should a Bullock order have been made.

Civil Liability Act 2000 (NSW) s5F; s5G; s5H District Court Rules Pt 39A r26; r25 LEGISLATION CITED: Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 s9 Practice Note 42 Supreme Court Rules Pt 52A r24

Annikin v Sierra (2004) 79 ALJR 452 Bouras v Grandelis [2005] NSWCA 463 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council; Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Diamond v Simpson (No 4) [2004] NSWCA 57 James Hardie & Co Pty Ltd v Wyong Shire Council (2000) 48 NSWLR 679 Joslyn v Berryman (2003) 214 CLR 552 Liftronic Pty Ltd v Unver (2001) 75 ALJR 867 CASES CITED: Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council (2005) 80 ALJR 43 Neindorf v Junkovic (2005) 80 ALJR 341 Phillis v Daly (1988) 15 NSWLR 65 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 50 ALJR 492 Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208 Temora Shire Council v Stein [2004] NSWCA 236 Thompson v Woolworths (Qld) Pty Ltd (2005) 79 ALJR 904 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 80 ALJR 1 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40