ZOROM ENTERPRISES PTY LTD v ZABOW & ORS [2007] NSWCA 106

Reported Decision: 71 NSWLR 354 Appeal Outcome: Special leave refused with costs by the High Court - 14 December 2007

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: ZOROM ENTERPRISES PTY LTD v ZABOW & ORS [2007] NSWCA 106 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 14 March 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 4 May 2007

JUDGMENT OF: McColl JA at 1; Basten JA at 2; Campbell JA at 69

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs

CATCHWORDS: TORTS – vicarious liability – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) – whether s 3B(1) excluded the operation of the Act in relation to the vicarious liability of an employer for an intentional tort by its employee - TORTS – vicarious liability – employment of security guards on licensed premises – – conditions imposed on licences under Liquor Act 1982 (NSW) – unauthorised act by an employee – whether employer of security guard vicariously liable - DAMAGES – exemplary damages – whether employer could be vicariously liable for exemplary damages - DAMAGES – future economic loss – whether assessment should be by way of a 'buffer' – whether correct comparable earnings used - DAMAGES – superannuation based on future economic loss – whether actuarial evidence necessary – whether a second discount should be applied because the amount is received now rather than later

Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3B, 3C, 13 Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 (NSW), ss 5, 7, 8 LEGISLATION CITED: Liquor Act 1982 (NSW), ss 103, 125 Security Industry Act 1997 (NSW) Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth)

Allesch v Maunz (2000) 203 CLR 172 Branir Pty Ltd & Ors v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd & Anor (2001) 117 FCR 424 Braverus Maritime Inc v Port Kembla Coal Terminal Ltd (2005) 148 FCR 68 Commissioner of Police v Estate of Russell (2002) 55 NSWLR 232 Copyright Agency Ltd v Department of Education of New South Wales (1985) 4 IPR 5 59 ALR 172 Cowra Shire Council v Trudgett [2004] NSWCA 9 Darling Island Stevedoring and Lighterage Co Ltd v Long (1957) 97 CLR 36 Deatons Pty Ltd v Flew (1949) 79 CLR 370 Foster v Tyne and Wear County Council [1986] 1 All ER 567 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 Ghunaim v Bart [2004] NSWCA 28; (2004) Aust Torts Rep 65 451 Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 196 CLR 1 Hughes v Law Society of New South Wales [2004] NSWSC 290 Jones v Schiffmann (1971) 124 CLR 303 Jongen v CSR Limited [1992] Aust Torts Rep 81-192 (WASC) Jovic v Lamont [2007] NSWCA 47 Lamb v Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR 1 Linsell v Robson [1976] 1 NSWLR 249 Lloyd v Grace, Smith & Co [1912] AC 716 Smith & Co [1912] AC 716 Minister for Immigration Local Government and Ethnic Affairs v Hamsher (1992) 35 FCR 359 CASES CITED: Morris v C.W. Martin & Sons Ltd [1966] 1 QB 716 New South Wales v Ibbett [2006] HCA 57; (2006) 231 ALR 485 NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation v Wynn (1994) Aust Torts Rep 81-304 Oceanic Crest Shipping Company v Pilbara Harbour Services Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 626 Paul v Rendell (1981) 55 ALJR 371 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Roads and Traffic Authority v Cremona [2001] NSWCA 338 Sandstone DMC Pty Ltd v Trajkovski [2006] NSWCA 205 Starks v RSM Security Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 351 State of New South Wales v Bujdoso [2007] NSWCA 44 State of New South Wales v Bryant (2005) 64 NSWLR 281 State of New South Wales v Ibbett [2005] NSWCA 445; (2005) 65 NSWLR 168 State of New South Wales v Lepore (2003) 212 CLR 511 State of New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 The Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64 Thomson v Mybner Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 766; (2000) 31 MVR 335 Todorovic v Waller (1981) 150 CLR 402 University of Newcastle & Ors v Audio-Visual Copyright Society Ltd (1999) 43 IPR 505 Wagstaff v Haslam [2007] NSWCA 28 Waste Recycling & Processing Services of New South Wales v Meafou [2004] NSWCA 462 Whitehouse Properties Trading as Beach Road Hotel v McInerney [2005] NSWCA 436 Williams v The Minister for Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 and the State of New South Wales (2000) Aust Torts Rep 81-578; [2000] NSWCA 255 Law Reform Commission (NSW) "Proceedings by and against the Crown" (1975) par 13.27 Luntz "Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury and Death" 4th ed pp 681, 683