Council of the City of Greater Taree v Wells [2010] NSWCA 147

Reported Decision: 174 LGERA 208[2010] Aust Torts Reports 82-063[2010] ALMD 6778[2010] ALMD 6777[2010] ALMD 6776

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Council of the City of Greater Taree v Wells [2010] NSWCA 147

HEARING DATE(S): 10 February 2010

JUDGMENT DATE: 1 July 2010

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; McColl JA at 103; Basten JA at 104

DECISION: The appeal is dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: TORTS – duty of care – duty of council to users of public pathway – whether appellant owed duty of care in circumstances where it installed an obstruction along a public pathway - TORTS – duty of care – scope of duty – scope of duty to be determined objectively - TORTS – breach of duty of care – Civil Liability Act 2002, s 5B – principles in Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12: (1980) 146 CLR 40 – whether the Civil Liability Act 2002, s 5B substantially restates the principles at common law - TORTS – contributory negligence – Civil Liability Act 2002, Division 8 – determined objectively - TORTS – obvious risk – Civil Liability Act 2002, Division 4, ss 5F-I – whether installation of a chain across a public pathway constitutes an obvious risk - PRACTICE & PROCEDURE – Civil Liability Act 2002 – actions to be determined by reference to the Civil Liability Act 2002

Civil Liability Act 2002 LEGISLATION CITED: Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 Supreme Court Act 1970

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak; Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Bou Najem [2009] HCA 48 C G Maloney Pty Ltd v Hutton-Potts and Another [2006] NSWCA 136 Carey v Lake Macquarie City Council [2007] NSWCA 4 at [93]; (2007) Aust Torts Reports 81-874 Commissioner of Railways v Ruprecht [1979] HCA 37; 142 CLR 563 Consolidated Broken Hill Ltd v Edwards [2005] NSWCA 380; (2005) Aust Torts Reports 81-815 Dessent v Commonwealth of Australia (1977) 13 ALR 437 Drinkwater v Howarth [2006] NSWCA 222 Fallas v Mourlas [2006] NSWCA 32 Folkes v Calabaro & Ors [2004] NSWCA 191 Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48; (1961) 106 CLR 340 CASES CITED: Great Lakes Shire Council v Dederer & Anor; Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer & Anor [2006] NSWCA 101; (2006) Aust Torts Reports 81-860 Indermauer v Dames (1866) LR 1 CP 274 at 288 Joslyn v Berryman [2003] HCA 34; (2003) 214 CLR 552 Neindorf v Junkovic [2005] HCA 75; (2005) 80 ALJR 341 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; 59 ALJR 492 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; (2007) 234 CLR 330 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Refrigerated Roadways Pty Limited [2009] NSWCA 263 Romeo v Conservation Commission (NT) [1998] HCA 5; (1998) 192 CLR 431 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 422 Warren v Coombes [1979] HCA 9; 142 CLR 531 Waverley Council v Ferreira [2005] NSWCA 418 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40