Ryland v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd [2012] NSWDC 136

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ryland v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd [2012] NSWDC 136 Hearing dates: 22-25 May 2012 Decision date: 28 May 2012 Before: Neilson DCJ Decision: I give verdict and judgment for the defendant Catchwords: Personal injury - Occupier's liability - Plaintiff slipped and fell on a liquid substance in a Table Eight store at the Homebush DFO and injured herself - Duty of occupier of premises to invitee to prevent damage from any unusual trap or danger of which the occupier knew or ought to have known - Question of whether an adequate system for the cleaning and inspection of floor of the occupier existed at the time - Issue of size of the spillage and for how long it had been present on the floor - Civil Liability Act 2002, s 5D Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 s 5D, s 15(3) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946, s 6 Workers Compensation Act 1987 Cases Cited: Ainger v Coffs Harbour City Council [2005] NSWCA 424 Ainger v Coffs Harbour to City Council (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 212 Australian Safeway Stores v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 Brady v Girvan Bros Pty Ltd (1986) 7 NSWLR 241 Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 Dulhunty v JB Young Ltd (1975) 50 ALJR 150 Hampton Court Ltd v Crooks (1957) 97 CLR 367 Hill v Forrester [2010] NSWCA 170 Indermaur v Dames (1866) LR 1 CP 274 Kocis v SE Dickens Pty Ltd [1998] 3 VR 408 Rose v Abbey Orchard Property Investments Pty Ltd (1987) Aust Torts Reports 80-121 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5 Williamson v GJ Coles & Co Ltd [1985] VR 59 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Pamela Ryland (Plaintiff) QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd Representation: Mr M N Thompson (Plaintiff) Ms T A Berberian (Defendant) Gerard Malouf & Partners (Plaintiff) HWL Ebsworth Lawyers (Defendant) File Number(s): 424935 of 2010