Coca Cola Amatil (NSW) Pty Ltd v Pareezer & Ors [2006] NSWCA 45

Reported Decision : (2006) Aust Torts Reports 81-834

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Coca Cola Amatil (NSW) Pty Ltd v Pareezer & Ors [2006] NSWCA 45

HEARING DATE(S): 13 September 2005

JUDGMENT DATE: 15 March 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Mason P at 1; Tobias JA at 12; Young CJ in Eq at 13

DECISION: (1) Appeal allowed against the first three repondents; (2) Orders of Hulme J against the appellant in favour of the first three respondents be set aside; (3) In lieu order that the proceedings be dismissed with costs; (4) Order that the first, second and third respondents pay the appellant's costs of the appeal, but they are to have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act if so qualified; (5) Dismiss appeal against fourth and fifth respondents with costs.

CATCHWORDS: TORT- Personal injury- Contractor shot while delivering appellant's products to vending machine- Duty of care- Whether there exists a special relationship which creates duty to protect against violence- Causation- Whether there exists a practicable and reasonable alternative system- Gunman irrational- Alternative system would not have prevented injury.

Ashrafi Persian Trading Co Pty Ltd v Ashrafinia [2002] Aust Torts Rep 81-636 Betts v Whitlingslowe (1945) 71 CLR 637 Chapman v Hearse (1961) 106 CLR 112 Cheng Fung Pty Ltd v Heloui [2005] NSWCA 222 Chomentowski v Red Garter Restuarant Ltd (1970) 92 WN (NSW) 1070 Doughty v Turner Manufacturing Co Ltd [1964] 1 QB 518 English v Rogers [2005] NSWCA 327 Forbes v Selleys Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 149 Kozjak v Fairfax Community Newspapers [2001] NSWCA 37 Laybutt v Glover Gibbs Pty Ltd (2005) 79 ALJR 1808 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil (2000) 205 CLR 254 CASES CITED: Neill v NSW Fresh Food & Ice Pty Ltd (1963) 108 CLR 362 Proprietors of Strata Plan 17226 v Drakulic (2002) 55 NSWLR 659 Skuse v Commonwealth of Australia (1985) 62 ALR 108 Smith v Leurs (1945) 70 CLR 256 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16 Swain v Waverley MC (2005) 79 ALJR 565 TC by his tutor Sabatino v State of New South Wales [2001] NSWCA 380 Thurogood v Van Den Berghs & Jurgens Ltd [1951] 2 KB 537 TNT Australia Pty Ltd v Christie [2003] NSWCA 47 Vozza v Tooth & Co Ltd (1964) 112 CLR 316 Wilkinson v Law Courts Ltd [2001] NSWCA 196 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40