State of NSW (NSW Police) v Nominal Defendant [2009] NSWCA 225

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: State of NSW (NSW Police) v Nominal Defendant [2009] NSWCA 225

HEARING DATE(S): 1 May 2009

JUDGMENT DATE: 31 July 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Allsop P at 1; Beazley JA at 2; Macfarlan JA at 113

1. Appeal allowed; 2. Set aside the verdict for the defendant/respondent; DECISION: 3. Set aside orders 2 and 3 made by the trial judge; 4. Order that there be verdict and judgment for the appellant; and 5. Direct the parties to bring in short minutes of order in accordance with these reasons within seven days.

CATCHWORDS: TORTS – negligence – causation – injury during the course of a police pursuit – whether the initiation and continuation of the pursuit broke the chain of causation - TORTS – negligence – police pursuit – contributory negligence – whether the police officer's decision to initiate and continue the pursuit was reasonable – whether the police officer exercised reasonable care for his own safety - TORTS – negligence – damages – future economic loss – Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999, s 126 – parties agreed on approach to Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999, s 126 – assumptions made by trial judge in determining future economic loss – whether assumptions supported by the evidence

Civil Liability Act 2002, s 13 LEGISLATION CITED: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999, Pt 2.4, s 126 Supreme Court Act 1970, s 75A Workers Compensation Act 1987, s 151Z

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Bennett v Minister for Community Welfare [1992] HCA 27; (1992) 176 CLR 408 Bresatz v Przibilla [1962] HCA 54; (1962) 108 CLR 541 Chappel v Hart [1998] HCA 55; (1998) 195 CLR 232 Environment Agency v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1998] UKHL 5; [1999] 2 AC 22 Gett v Tabet [2009] NSWCA 76 Glasgow Corporation v Muir [1943] AC 448 Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Wojnar (Court of Appeal, 15 December 1988, unreported) Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48; (1961) 106 CLR 340 Hirst v Nominal Defendant [2005] QCA 65; (2005) 2 Qd R 133 Joslyn v Berryman [2003] HCA 34; (2003) 214 CLR 552 Liftronic Pty Ltd v Unver [2001] HCA 24; (2001) 179 ALR 321 CASES CITED: MacArthur Districts Motor Cycle Sportsman Inc v Ardizzone [2004] NSWCA 145; (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-744 Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 37; (1985) 156 CLR 522 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20; (1990) 169 CLR 638 March v Stramare (E & MH) Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12; (1991) 171 CLR 506 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission [1995] HCA 5; (1995) 182 CLR 1 Nestle Australia Ld v McDougall [1998] NSWCA 158 Norris v Blake (by his Tutor Porter) (No 2) (1997) 41 NSWLR 49; (1997) 25 MVR 101 NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation v Sprengnagel [1995] NSWCA 315 Parks v Penrith City Council [2004] NSWCA 381 Podreberserk v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; (1985) 59 ALR 529 Reeves v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [1999] UKHL 35; [2000] 1 AC 360 Teubner v Humble [1963] HCA 11; (1963) 108 CLR 491 Wynn v NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation [1995] HCA 53; (1995) 184 CLR 485