Guest v The Nominal Defendant [2006] NSWCA 77

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Guest v The Nominal Defendant [2006] NSWCA 77

HEARING DATE(S): 05/04/06

JUDGMENT DATE: 25 May 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Mason P at 1; Handley JA at 15; Ipp JA at 16

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: COURTS AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM - appellant injured in unknown circumstances - appellant suffering from partial amnesia - unusual combination of injuries - appellant alleged that he had been struck by a motor vehicle - expert witnesses at trial propounded two alternative theories to explain the appellant's injuries - whether an appellate court can overturn a decision of a trial judge when it is based on the competing views of expert witnesses - whether a judge can decline to accept either theory - Rhesa Shipping Co SA v Edmunds ("The Popi M") [1985] 1 WLR 948 discussed - determination of probabilities - the task of an appellate court when the trial judge's decision in regard to a conflict between experts is based only to a minor degree on demeanour. - EVIDENCE - whether admission by conduct by a driver binding on the Nominal Defendant - whether failure to stop after accident is admission by driver. D

Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167 Aktiebolaget Hassle v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2002) 194 ALR 485 Biogen Inc v Medeva Plc (1997) RPC 1 CSR Ltd v Della Maddalena (2006) 224 ALR 1 Dearman v Dearman (1908) 7 CLR 549 Effem Foods Ltd v Nicholls [2004] ATPR 42-034 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 CASES CITED: Holloway v McFeeters (1956) 94 CLR 470 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Luxton v Vines (1952) 85 CLR 352 Nesterczuk v Mortimore (1965) 115 CLR 140 Nominal Defendant v Puglisi (1984) 58 ALJR 474 Rhesa Shipping Co SA v Edmunds ("The Popi M") [1985] 1 WLR 948 Suvaal v Cessnock City Council (2003) 77 ALJR 1449 The Ghannibanta (1876) 1 PD 283 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531