Condos v Clycut Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 200

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Condos v Clycut Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 200

HEARING DATE(S): 24 June 2009

JUDGMENT DATE: 16 July 2009

JUDGMENT OF: McColl JA at 1; Campbell JA at 95; Macfarlan JA at 96

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs

CATCHWORDS: TORTS – negligence – proof of negligence – sufficiency of evidence – plaintiff allegedly struck by barricade blown over by strong wind in shopping centre – no eyewitness evidence as to circumstances of plaintiff's fall – no evidence as to nature of any barricade – no evidence that managing agent or security services appointed by occupier failed to discharge duties – whether inference of negligence could be drawn - EVIDENCE – burden of proof, weight and sufficiency of evidence – generally - EVIDENCE – unexplained failure to call witness – whether adverse Jones v Dunkel inference could be drawn – lack of forensic utility in drawing adverse Jones v Dunkel inference against all parties

LEGISLATION CITED: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW)

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] NSWCA 29 Anikin v Sierra [2004] HCA 64; 79 ALJR 452 Bevillesta Pty Ltd v Liberty International Insurance Co [2009] NSWCA 16 Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (1951) 217 ALR 1 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Tormey [2009] NSWCA 135 De Gioia v Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co Limited (1941) 42 SR (NSW) 1 Ellis v Wallsend District Hospital (1989) 17 NSWLR 553 Girlock (Sales) Pty Ltd v Hurrell [1982] HCA 15; (1982) 149 CLR 155 Hampton Court Limited v Crooks [1957] HCA 28; (1957) 97 CLR 367 HML v R [2008] HCA 16; (2008) 235 CLR 334 Holloway v McFeeters [1956] HCA 25; (1956) 94 CLR 470 CASES CITED: Jackson v Lithgow City Council [2008] NSWCA 312 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Luxton v Vines [1952] HCA 19; (1952) 85 CLR 352 Manly Council v Byrne [2004] NSWCA 123 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Pollard v RRR Corporation Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 110 Portelli v Tabriska Pty Ltd & Ors [2009] NSWCA 17 Progressive Recycling Pty Limited v Eversham [2003] NSWCA 268; (2003) 40 MVR 141 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Ltd [2000] HCA 18; (2000) 200 CLR 121 Shellharbour City Council v Rhiannon Rigby & Anor [2006] NSWCA 308; (2006) 150 LGERA 11 Sweeney v Boylan Nominees Pty Ltd [2006] HCA 10; (2006) 226 CLR 161 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40 Wynn Tresidder Management v Barkho [2009] NSWCA 149