McPherson's Ltd v Eaton & Ors [2005] NSWCA 435

Reported Decision : 65 NSWLR 187 (2005) Aust Torts Reports 81-825

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: McPherson's Ltd v Eaton & Ors [2005] NSWCA 435

HEARING DATE(S): 24/08/05

JUDGMENT DATE: 16 December 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Mason P at 1; Hodgson JA at 26; Ipp JA at 31

DECISION: (1) Appeal upheld with costs to be paid by the First Respondent (2) Judgment of O'Meally P be set aside (3) Matter to be remitted to the Dust Diseases Tribunal for retrial (4) The costs of the trial before O'Meally P should be costs in the cause (5) Mrs Eaton should have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) if otherwise qualified.

CATCHWORDS: NEGLIGENCE - liability of retail vendor - injury sustained by employee of purchaer - retail of goods containing asbestos dust and fibres - additional factor required to establish a duty of care between vendor and purchaser - Laundess v Laundess applied - discussion of additional factor - goods not dangerous in themselves - discussion of determination that a defendant "ought to know" of a danger - reasonable foreseeability - scope of duty - standard of care - how standard of care to be determined - necessity to carry out evaluation required by Wyong Shire Council v Shirt - need to identify with sufficient precision what reasonable person in position of tortfeasor would do by way of response to the reasonably foreseeable risk. D

LEGISLATION CITED: Dust Diseases Tribunal Act 1989 (NSW), s 32(1)

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