Edson v Roads & Traffic Authority [2006] NSWCA 68

Reported Decision : (2006) 65 NSWLR 453 (2006) Aust Torts Reports 81-839

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Edson v Roads & Traffic Authority [2006] NSWCA 68 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 01/09/05

JUDGMENT DATE: 7 April 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; Ipp JA at 2; Hunt AJA at 170

DECISION: (1) Appeal upheld with costs (2) Orders made by Murray ADCJ granting judgment and orders for costs in favour of the RTA set aside (3) Cross-appeal is upheld with costs (4) Verdict and judgment for Ms Edson in the sum of $231,914 with costs.

CATCHWORDS: NEGLIGENCE - Appellant injured in car accident as she was attempting to cross a freeway - fence and wall blocking freeway was knocked down to allow access - crossing freeway in this way was common practice in the community - liability of road authority - application of common law duty of care to a statutory authority - duty of care - relationship between obviousness of a risk and the existence of a duty of care - Mawlodi v State Rail Authority of New South Wales [2001] NSWCA 415 distinguished - presence of allurement - causation - contributory negligence. - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - Costs - application for a Bullock order. D

LEGISLATION CITED: Roads Act 1993 (NSW), ss 7(1), 61(1), 70(b), 103, 145(1) Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW), ss 46(1), 52A(1) & 52A(2), 53

Almeida v Universal Dye Works Pty Ltd (No 2) [2001] NSWCA 156 Amaca Pty Ltd v New South Wales (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-749 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Burwood Council v Byrnes [2002] NSWCA 343 Chotiputhsilpa v Waterhouse [2005] NSWCA 295 Clarke v Coleambally Ski Club [2004] NSWCA 376 Commissioner for Railways (NSW) v Cardy (1959-60) 104 CLR 274 Commissioner of Main Roads v Jones (2005) 215 ALR 418 Consolidated Broken Hill Ltd v Edwards (2005) Aust Torts Reports 81-815 Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee (1999) 200 CLR 1 Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540 Hackshaw v Shaw (1984) 155 CLR 614 Liverpool City Council v Millett (2004) 43 MVR 193 March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 Mawlodi v State Rail Authority of New South Wales [2001] NSWCA 415 CASES CITED: McHale v Watson (1966) 115 CLR 199 Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council (2005) 211 ALR 764 Phillis v Daly (1988) 15 NSWLR 65 Pledge v Roads and Traffic Authority (2004) 205 ALR 56 Pyrenees Shire Council v Day (1998) 192 CLR 330 Richmond Valley Council v Standing (2002) Aust Torts Reports 81-679 Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory (1988) 192 CLR 454 RTA v Fletcher Leighton Contractors (2001) 33 MVR 215 RTA v McGregor (2005) 44 MVR 261 Squillacioti v RTA [2002] NSWCA 133 Sutherland Shire Council v Henshaw [2004] NSWCA 386 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 Sved v Council of the Municipality of Woollahra (1998) NSW Conv R 55-842 Temora Shire Council v Stein (2004) 134 LGERA 407 Thompson v Woolworths (Queensland) Pty Ltd (2005) 79 ALJR 904 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 221 ALR 711 Webb v South Australia (1982) 56 ALJR 912 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40