Paul v Cooke [2013] NSWCA 311

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Paul v Cooke [2013] NSWCA 311 Hearing dates: 29, 30 July 2013 Decision date: 19 September 2013 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Ward JA at [14]; Leeming JA at [19] Decision: Appeal dismissed, with costs. [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: NEGLIGENCE - Civil Liability legislation - liability - no causation where harm is outside scope of defendant's liability - no liability for materialisation of inherent risk - failure to diagnose aneurysm - no deterioration of aneurysm in three years before diagnosis occurred - plaintiff suffered harm when aneurysm treated - defendant not liable for harm suffered Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), Part 1A Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 65A Cases Cited: Action Paintball Games Pty Ltd (in liq) v Barker [2013] NSWCA 128 Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; (2009) 239 CLR 420 Astley v Austrust Ltd [1999] HCA 6; (1999) 197 CLR 1 Balnaves v Smith [2010] QSC 39; [2011] 2 Qd R 17 Bond v Barry [2008] FCAFC 115; (2008) 173 FCR 106 Chappel v Hart [1998] HCA 55; (1998) 195 CLR 232 Chester v Afshar [2004] UKHL 41; [2005] 1 AC 134 Cox v Fellows [2013] NSWCA 206 CTM v The Queen [2008] HCA 25; (2008) 236 CLR 440 Dovuro Pty Ltd v Wilkins [2003] HCA 51; (2003) 215 CLR 317 Environment Agency v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1999] 2 AC 22 Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services Ltd [2002] UKHL 22; [2003] 1 AC 32 Fitzgerald v Penn (1954) 91 CLR 268 Gett v Tabet [2009] NSWCA 76; (2009) 254 ALR 504 Harrison v Melhem [2008] NSWCA 67; (2008) 72 NSWLR 380 Kavanagh v The Commonwealth (1960) 103 CLR 547 King v Jones (1972) 128 CLR 221 King v Western Sydney Local Health Network [2013] NSWCA 162 Kuru v New South Wales [2008] HCA 26; (2008) 236 CLR 1 Lemery Holdings Pty Ltd v Reliance Financial Services Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 1344; (2008) 74 NSWLR 550 Lumbers v W Cook Builders Pty Ltd (in liq) [2008] HCA 27; (2008) 232 CLR 635 Lym International Pty Ltd v Marcolongo [2011] NSWCA 303 Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd (1985) 156 CLR 522 March v Stramare (E & M H) Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 Moyes v Lothian Health Board 1990 SLT 444 MTAA Superannuation Fund (RG Casey) Building Property Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2012] FCAFC 89; (2012) 203 FCR 415 Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council [2005] HCA 63; (2005) 223 CLR 486 O'Halloran v R T Thomas & Family Pty Ltd (1998) 45 NSWLR 262 Prestcold (Central) Ltd v Minister of Labour [1969] 1 WLR 89 Roadshow Films Pty Ltd v iiNet Ltd [2012] HCA 16; (2012) 86 ALJR 494 Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479 Rosenberg v Percival [2001] HCA 18; (2001) 205 CLR 434 Ruddock v Taylor [2003] NSWCA 262; (2003) 58 NSWLR 269 Sibraa v Brown [2012] NSWCA 328 Sienkiewicz v Greif (UK) Ltd [2011] UKSC 10; [2011] 2 AC 229 State Transit Authority of New South Wales v Fritzi Chemler [2007] NSWCA 249; (2007) 5 DDCR 286 Stephens v Giovenco; Dick v Giovenco [2011] NSWCA 53 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; (2012) 246 CLR 182 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd (1950) 81 CLR 418 Tabet v Gett [2010] HCA 12; (2010) 240 CLR 537 Victims Compensation Fund Corporation v Brown [2003] HCA 54; (2003) 77 ALJR 1797 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; (2013) 87 ALJR 648 Wyong Shire Council v Vairy [2004] NSWCA 247; (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-754 Zanner v Zanner [2010] NSWCA 343; (2010) 79 NSWLR 702 Zotti v Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd [2009] NSWCA 323 Texts Cited: James Allsop, "Causation in Commercial Law" in Degeling, Edelman and Goudkamp (eds), Torts in Commercial Law (2011) Lawbook Co, 269 Nicola Bodor, "A consideration of 'scope of liability' within the Restatements" (2012) 20 The Tort Law Review 163 Lord Hoffmann, "Causation" (2005) 121 Law Quarterly Review 592 David Ipp, "Problems and Progress in Remoteness of Damage" in Paul Finn (ed), Essays on Damages (1992) Law Book Company, 14 Barbara McDonald, "The impact of the Civil Liability legislation on fundamental policies and principles of the common law of negligence" (2006) 14 Torts Law Journal 268 Jane Stapleton, "Legal Cause: Cause-in-Fact and the Scope of Liability for Consequences" 54 Vanderbilt Law Review 941 (2001) Jane Stapleton, "Unpacking 'Causation'" in Cane and Gardner (eds), Relating to Responsibility: Essays for Tony Honore on his Eightieth Birthday (2001) Hart Publishing, 145 Jane Stapleton, "Choosing what we mean by 'Causation' in the Law" 73 Missouri Law Review 433 (2008) Jane Stapleton, "Unnecessary Causes" (2013) 129 Law Quarterly Review 39 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Christine Paul (Appellant) Kenneth Cooke (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Graham SC / R O'Keefe (Appellant) J Kirk SC / V Thomas (Respondent) Solicitors: Maurice Blackburn (Appellant) Ashurst (Respondent) File Number(s): 2012/261627 Decision under appeal Citation: Paul v Cooke [2012] NSWSC 840 Date of Decision: 2012-07-25 00:00:00 Before: Brereton J File Number(s): 2008/289586