Amaca Pty Ltd (under NSW External Administration) v A B & P Constructions Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 220

Reported Decision: (2007) Aust Torts Reports 81-910

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Amaca Pty Ltd (under NSW External Administration) v A B & P Constructions Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 220

HEARING DATE(S): 18 June 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 29 August 2007

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA at 1; Ipp JA at 92; Basten JA at 129

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: Negligence - manufacture of asbestos-based product - duty of care owed to consumers - whether error of law in formulation of duty of care - content of duty of care - no error - if had been error, would have been error of fact - whether error of law in determining breach - no failure properly to evaluate relevant factors - whether error of law in finding causation - causation not relevantly in issue at trial - was evidence on which causation could be found.

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

Anderson v The City of Enfield (1983) 34 SASR 472; Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512; Cole v South Tweed Heads Rugby League Football Club Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 468; Commissioner of Corrective Services v Walker [2007] NSWCA 213; Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562; Dovuro Pty Ltd v Wilkins (2001) 182 ALR 481; Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540; Grant v Australian Knitting Mills Ltd (1933) 50 CLR 387 (HC); Great Lakes Shire Council v Dederer (2006) Aust Torts Reports 81-860; [2006] NSWCA 101; Jones v Bartlett (2000) 205 CLR 166; Leichhardt Municipal Council v Montgomery (2007) 81 ALJR 687; McPhersons Ltd v Eaton (2005) 65 NSWLR 187; Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254; Nagle v Rottnest Island Authority (1993) 177 CLR 423; CASES CITED: Neindorf v Junkovic (2005) ALJR 341, (2005) 222 ALR 631; Norton Australia Pty Ltd v Streets Ice Cream Pty Ltd (1968) 120 CLR 635; Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn v Habda (2005) 79 ALJR 1195; Sakoua v Williams (2005) 64 NSWLR 588; Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208; Shellharbour City Council v Rigby [2006] NSWCA 308; (2006) 150 LGERA 11; Skulander v Willoughby City Council [2007] NSWCA 116; Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562; Swain v Waverley Municipal Council (2005) 220 CLR 517; Temora Shire Council v Stein (2004) LGERA 407; Thompson v Johnson & Johnson Pty Ltd (1989) ATR 80-278; Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 223 CLR 422; Whittelsea City Council v Merie [2005] VSCA 199; Woods v Multisport Holdings Pty Ltd (2002) 208 CLR 460; Wright v Dunlop Rubber Co Ltd (1972) KIR 255; Wyong Shire Concil v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40.