Rhiannon Rigby v Shellharbour City Council & Anor [2005] NSWSC 86

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Rhiannon Rigby v Shellharbour City Council & Anor [2005] NSWSC 86

HEARING DATE(S) : 22/09/03-03/10/03, 13/04/04-23/04/04, 16/06/04-17/06/04, 22/02/05

JUDGMENT DATE : 8 April 2005

JUDGMENT OF : Dunford J

DECISION : Judgment for plaintiff against both defendants for $1,847,536.70 plus costs. Judgment on each cross-claim for cross-claimant for $923,768.35. Consequential orders.

CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - personal injury - public authority - BMX bike club - BMX cycle track - access to public - unfenced starting ramp - lack of warning signs - whether negligent - plaintiff riding down ramp at speed - dislodged at first hump - whether negligent - contriburoty negligence - 14 year old girl - dare by friend - DAMAGES - assessment of - brain damage - employability - cost of care - capacity to care for baby born since accident - cost of funds management - how calculated and applied

LEGISLATION CITED : Protected Estates Act 1983

Nicholson v Nicholson (1994) 35 NSWLR 308 Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory (1998) 192 CLR 431 Southern Portland Cement Ltd v Cooper [1974] AC 623 PC, affirming (1972) 128 CLR 427 Sullivan v Gordon (1999) 47 NSWLR 319 CASES CITED : Thompson v Bankstown Corporation (1953) 87 CLR 619 Waters v Henderson (Australia) Pty Ltd (CA - 6 July 1994) Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 Wyong Shire Council v Vairy; Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council [2004] NSWCA 247

Rhiannon Rigby by her tutor Carole Lynne Rigby v PARTIES : Shellharbour City Council - First Defendant Southlake BMX Club Incorporated - Second Defendant