Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Meneghello [2013] NSWCA 264

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Meneghello [2013] NSWCA 264 Hearing dates: 25 June 2013 Decision date: 15 August 2013 Before: Barrett JA (at [1]; Ward JA (at [122]); Emmett JA (at [123]) Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the judgment and orders of the District Court of 29 August 2012. 3. In lieu thereof, order that the proceedings in the District Court be dismissed with costs. 4. That the respondent pay the appellant's costs of the proceedings in this Court. 5. Grant to the respondent a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act 1951 if qualified. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: TORTS - negligence - occupiers' liability - plaintiff fell in defendant's supermarket - small pieces of cardboard on the floor in the vicinity of the fall - causation - whether the plaintiff established that she trod on the cardboard - whether the plaintiff established that the cardboard was a slip hazard - assessment of damages - where evidence of treating doctors indicated minor injury in consequence of fall - more serious consequences suggested in medico-legal reports but loss of capacity to earn quite limited - finding of 20 per cent of a most extreme case not supportable - findings as to loss of earning capacity not supportable Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002, ss 3, 5B(1)(a), 5B(1)(b), 5B(1)(c), 5B(2), 5D1(a), 5D(1)(b), 5E, 15, 16 Cases Cited: Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna [1987] HCA 7; (1987) 162 CLR 479 Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (HCA, unreported, 27th April 1951) Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2011] HCA 21; (2011) 243 CLR 588 Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Luxton v Vines [1952] HCA 19; (1952) 85 CLR 352 Pownall v Conlan Management Pty Ltd (1995) 12 WAR 370 Stojan (No 9) Pty Ltd v Kenway [2009] NSWCA 364 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; (2012) 246 CLR 182 Wilson v Peisley (1976) 50 ALJR 207 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd - Appellant Charlene May Meneghello - Respondent Representation: McCulloch & Buggy - Appellant CMC Lawyers - Respondent File Number(s): 2012/290882 Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2012-08-29 00:00:00 Before: Kearns DCJ File Number(s): 2011/264170