Carey v Lake Macquarie City Council [2007] NSWCA 4

Reported Decision: (2007) Aust Torts Reports 81-874

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Carey v Lake Macquarie City Council [2007] NSWCA 4

HEARING DATE(S): 12 October 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 8 February 2007

JUDGMENT OF: McColl JA at 1; McClellan CJ at CL at 15; McDougall J at 113

DECISION: 1. Appeal upheld; 2. Verdict and judgment for the appellant in the sum of $42,661.00; 3. The respondent is to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal and in the court below.

CATCHWORDS: NEGLIGENCE - appeal on liability - bicycle collision with a bollard erected in the middle of a pathway - duty to care owed by local council to cyclists - missing reflector tape on bollard - obviousness of risk - whether appellant cyclist failed to keep proper lookout - voluntary assumption of risk - contributory negligence.

Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW)

Ainger v Coffs Harbour City Council [2005] NSWCA 424 Bernasconi v Newcastle City Council [2005] NSWCA 422 Bowster v Rowley Regis Corp [1944] 1 KB 476 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council C G Maloney Pty Ltd v Hutton-Potts [2006] NSWCA 136 Canterbury Municipal Council v Taylor & Ors [2002] NSWCA 24 Consolidated Broken Hill Ltd v Edwards [2005] NSWCA 380; (2005) Aust Torts 81-815 Doubleday v Kelly [2005] NSWCA 151 Edson v Roads & Traffic Authority [2006] NSWCA 68 Eutick v City of Canada Bay Council [2006] NSWCA 30 Fallas v Mourlas [2006] NSWCA 32 Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Great Lakes Shire Council v Dederer [2006] NSWCA 101 Haynes v Harwood & Sons [1935] 1 KB 146 Langham v Connells Point Rovers Soccer Club Inc [2005] NSWCA 461 Letang v Ottawa Electric Railway Company [1926] AC 725, Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council (2005) 80 ALJR 43 Osborne v The London and Northwest Railway Company (1888) LR 21 QBD 220 CASES CITED: Pennington v Norris [1956] HCA 26; (1956) 96 CLR 10 Randwick City Council v Muzic [2006] NSWCA 66 Roggenkamp v Bennett (1950) 80 CLR 292 Scanlon v American Cigarette Company (Overseas) Pty Ltd (No 3) [1987] VR 289 Shellharbour City Council v Johnson [2006] NSWCA 67 Shellharbour City Council v Rhiannon Rigby [2006] NSWCA 308 Smith v Charles Baker & Sons [1891] AC 325 Standfield v Uhr [1964] Qd R 66 Suncorp Insurance & Finance v Blakeney (1993) 18 MVR 361 Temora Shire Council v Stein [2004] NSWCA 236; (2004) 134 LGERA 407 The Insurance Commissioner v Joyce (1948) 77 CLR 39 Thomas v Quartermaine (1887) LR 18 QBD 685 Thompson v Woolworths (Q'land) Pty Ltd (2005) 79 ALJR 904 Timberland Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Julie Bundy [2005] NSWCA 419 Tingle v J B Hinz & Sons [1970] Qd R 108 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 422 Waverley Council v Ferreira [2005] NSWCA 418; (2005) Aust Torts Reports 81-818 Woods v Multi-Sport Holdings Pty Ltd (2002) 186 ALR 145 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1979) 146 CLR 40