Perry and Bell v Australian Rail Track Corporation Ltd & Ors [2013] NSWSC 714

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Perry and Bell v Australian Rail Track Corporation Ltd & Ors [2013] NSWSC 714 Hearing dates: 28, 29, 30, 31 May 2012; 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 June 2012 Decision date: 07 June 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: See paras [259] and [309] Catchwords: TORTS - negligence - liability of train controller, driver and driver's employer for level crossing collision - scope of liability - damages for mental harm. Legislation Cited: -Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) -Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) -Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW) -Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) -Rail Safety Act 2002 (NSW) (Repealed) -Rail Safety (General) Regulation 2003 (NSW) (Repealed) -Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW) -Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) -Workers Compensation Regulation 2010 (NSW) -Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) Cases Cited: -Baden Cranes Pty Ltd v Smith [2013] NSWCA 136 -Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 408 -Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; 98 ER 969 -Bolitho v City & Hackney Health Authority [1998] AC 232 -Davie v New Merton Board Mills Ltd [1959] AC 604 -Grant v Sun Shipping Co Ltd [1948] AC 549 -Kondis v State Transport Authority [1984] HCA 61; 154 CLR 672 -Kuwait Airways Corp v Iraqi Airways Co (No's 4 and 5) [2002] 2 AC 883 -Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 37; 156 CLR 522 -Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20; 169 CLR 638 -March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12; 171 CLR 506 -Monaghan Surveyors Pty Ltd v Stratford Glen-Avon Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 94 -Overseas Tankship (UK) Ltd v Morts Dock & Engineering Co Ltd (Wagon Mound (No 1) case) [1961] AC 388 -Re C L Nye Ltd [1971] 1 Ch 442 -Roads and Traffic Authority v Ryan [2005] NSWCA 34; 62 NSWLR 609 -Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208; 3 DDCR 1 -Sharman v Evans (1977) 138 CLR 563 -Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; 246 CLR 182 -Sungravure Pty Ltd v Meani (1964) 110 CLR 24 -TNT Australia Pty Ltd v Christie [2003] NSWCA 47; 65 NSWLR 1 -Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; 87 ALJR 648; 297 ALR 383 -Wright v Cambridge Medical Group [2013] QB 312; [2011] EWCA Civ 669 Texts Cited: Torts in Commercial Law, LawBook Co 2011 (Ch 14) Category: Principal judgment Parties: William Charles Perry (plaintiff) Stanley William Bell (plaintiff) Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited (first defendant) Kenneth William Eldridge (second defendant) GrainCorp. Operations Limited (third defendant) Representation: Counsel: J. Catsanos (plaintiffs) D. Talintyre with K. James (first defendant) B. Hull (second defendant) P. Rickard (third defendant) Solicitors: White Barnes (plaintiffs) Wotton Kearney (first defendant) George Mallos Lawyer (second defendant) Goldbergs Lawyers (third defendant) File Number(s): 2009/337578; 2009/337579