Nair-Smith v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 727

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Nair-Smith v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 727 Hearing dates: 27-30 August, 3-6 & 10-12 September 2012, written submissions 19 & 28 September, and 5 October 2012 Decision date: 07 June 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Beech-Jones J Decision: Defendant negligent and in breach of implied term. Further submissions and s 78B notices required before final quantum of damages can be determined. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE - BREACH OF IMPLIED TERM - accident boarding chairlift - Jones v Dunkel - failure to call doctor - lift ticket - purported contractual exclusion of implied term and liability - s 5N(1) Civil Liability Act - s 68, s 68A, s 68B and s 74 Trade Practices Act - whether Civil Liability Act applies to causes of action for breach of term implied by s 74(1) arising prior to 13 July 2004 - s 109 of the Constitution - duty of care - breach - whether lift operator inattentive - risk of harm from chair arriving in defective state - precaution of lift operator observing state of chair from location near loading point - causation - s 5D - inherent risk - s 5I - dangerous recreational activity - s 5L - risk warning - s 5M - contributory negligence - breach of implied term - damages - pre-accident afflictions - post-accident restrictions - failure to provide records - whether adverse interest should be drawn - economic loss - Sections 12 and 13 of Civil Liability Act - whether rental income and management fees earnings - gratuitous attendant services - lost fees from days absent from work. Legislation Cited: - Civil Liability Act 2002 - ss 5B, 5C 5D, 5I, 5L, 5M, 5N, 5R - Civil Liability (Non-economic Loss) Amendment Order 2012 - Civil Liability Amendment (Personal Responsibility) Act 2002 - Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) - Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) - s 78B - Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) - ss 4L, 68, 68A, 68B, 74 - Trade Practices Amendment (Liability for Recreational Services) Act 2002 (Cth) - Treasury Legislation Amendment (Professional Standards) Act 2004 (Cth) Cases Cited: - Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; 239 CLR 420 - Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWCA 13 - Astley v Austrust Ltd [1999] HCA 6; 197 CLR 1 - Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Hellicar [2012] HCA 17; 86 ALJR 522 - Belna Pty Ltd v Irwin [2009] NSWCA 46 - Benic v State of New South Wales [2010] NSWSC 1039 - Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 - Chapman v Hearse [1961] HCA 46; 106 CLR 112 - Davis v Bunn [1936] HCA 44; 56 CLR 246 - Fallas v Mourlas [2006] NSWCA 32; 65 NSWLR 418 - Fkiaras v Fkiaras [2010] NSWCA 116; 77 NSWLR 468 - Garzo v Liverpool/ Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 - Georgiadis v Australian & Overseas Telecommunications Corporation [1994] HCA 6; 179 CLR 297 - Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48; 106 CLR 340 - Insight Vacations Pty Ltd v Young [2010] NSWCA 137; 241 FLR 125 - Insight Vacations Pty Ltd v Young [2011] HCA 16; 243 CLR 149 - Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298 - Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd [2011] HCA 11; 243 CLR 361 - Nair-Smith v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 878 - Nair-Smith v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 1070 - Novakovic v Stekovic [2012] NSWCA 54 - Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99 - Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 - Shaw v Thomas [2010] NSWCA 169 - SST Consulting Services Pty Ltd v Rieson [2006] HCA 31; 225 CLR 516 - Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; 219 CLR 165 - Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; 223 CLR 422 - Wallace v Kam [2012] NSWCA 82; Aust Tort Reports 82-101 - Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; 87 ALJR 648 - Wallis v Downard-Pickford (North Queensland) Pty Ltd [1994] HCA 17; 179 CLR 388 - Woolworths Ltd v Lawlor [2004] NSWCA 209 - Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; 146 CLR 40 Texts Cited: - Review of the Law of Negligence: Final Report (September 2002) (the "Ipp Report") - Taperell, Vermeesch and Harland, Trade Practices and Consumer Protection, 3rd edition, Butterworths Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ghita Nair-Smith - Plaintiff Perisher Blue Pty Ltd - Defendant Representation: Counsel: D.A. Wheelahan QC, Gary J. Smith (Plaintiff) J.E. Maconachie QC, R. Montgomery (Defendant) Solicitors: Lough & Wells (Plaintiff) DibbsBarker (Defendant) File Number(s): 2006/294818