Haris v Bulldogs Rugby League Club [2006] NSWCA 53

Reported Decision : (2006) Aust Torts Reports 81-838

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Haris v Bulldogs Rugby League Club [2006] NSWCA 53

HEARING DATE(S): 15 November 2005

JUDGMENT DATE: 17 March 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Mason P at 1; Santow JA at 2; Ipp JA at 129

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: NEGLIGENCE – appellant spectator injured by firework while attending football match at stadium occupied by respondent – whether reasonable care taken to avoid a foreseeable risk of injury – whether additional measures should have been taken to discharge reasonable care in the circumstances – Whether sufficient reasons given and difference between adequacy of reasons and sufficiency of reasons – whether precautions taken were unnecessary when dealing with a reasonable person test under s5B Civil Liability Act – whether damages awarded inadequate.

LEGISLATION CITED: Civil Liability Act 2002 s5B, s12, s13

Axon v Axon (1937) 59 CLR 395 Beale v GIO of NSW (1997) 48 NSWLR 430 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 CASES CITED: Jones v Bradley [2003] NSWCA 81 Maylan v The Nutrasweet Company [2000] NSWCA 337 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254 Soulemezis v Dudley Holdings Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Waterways Authority v Fitzgibbon (2005) 79 ALJR 1816 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40

PARTIES: Samer HARIS (Appellant) BULLDOGS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB LIMITED (Respondent)

FILE NUMBER(S): CA 40998/04

COUNSEL: M J CRANITCH, SC/ A JAMIESON (Appellant) R W SETON, SC/ M NEWTON (Respondent)