Al Mousawy v Howitt-Stevens Constructions Pty Limited & Ors [2010] NSWSC 122

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Al Mousawy v Howitt-Stevens Constructions Pty Limited & Ors [2010] NSWSC 122

HEARING DATE(S) : 01/02/2010, 02/02/2010, 03/02/2010, 04/02/2010, 05/02/2010, 08/02/2010, 09/02/2010, 10/02/2010, 11/02/2010, 12/02/2010, 15/02/2010, 17/02/2010, 18/02/2010

JUDGMENT DATE : 8 March 2010

JUDGMENT OF : Hoeben J

DECISION : Judgment for the Defendants.

CATCHWORDS : TORTS - negligence - patron injured when ceiling of hotel collapsed - content of duty owed by structural engineer - significance of his retainer - breach of duty - whether collapse of ceiling reasonably foreseeable - causation - whether factual causation established - liability of owner of hotel - breach of duty - failing to adequately respond to complaints and failing to properly brief structural engineer - causation - section 5D Civil Liability Act 2002 - whether factual causation established - whether breach materially contributed to harm which occurred.

Civil Liability Act 2002 LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 Trade Practices Act 1974 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak; Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Bou Najem [2009] HCA 48; (2009) 84 ALJR 19 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Limited v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 Caltex Refineries (Qld) Pty Limited v Stavar [2009] NSWCA 258 CASES CITED : Drummond and Rosen Pty Limited v Easey [2009] NSWCA 74 Makawe Pty Limited v Randwick City Council [2009] NSWCA 412 Revilla Pty Ltd v Council of the City of Sydney [2003] NSWLEC 343 Sydney Water Corporation v Turano & Ors [2009] HCA 42; (2009) 239 CLR 51