Mamo v Surace [2014] NSWCA 58

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Mamo v Surace [2014] NSWCA 58 Hearing dates: 27 February 2014 Decision date: 13 March 2014 Before: McColl JA at [1], Ward JA at [90], Tobias AJA at [96] 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: TORTS - negligence - negligent driving - appellant passenger in car driven by respondent - where respondent driving within speed limit in semi-rural area at night - where respondent took eyes off road "momentarily" - where car collided with cow which ran onto road - where no evidence animals likely to stray onto road in area - whether respondent failed to keep proper lookout

PRACTICE - where appellant sought leave to raise argument not pleaded at trial - where appellant eschewed argument on point at trial - whether exceptional circumstances allowing new point to be raised on appeal - whether respondent prejudiced by amendments - whether respondent could have conducted case differently if point raised at trial

MOTOR ACCIDENTS COMPENSATION ACT - Part 1.2 Division 1 - construction of blameless motor accident provisions - whether confined to motor accidents as defined in Motor Accidents Compensation Act

EVIDENCE - where respondent not called to give evidence - where statement of respondent tendered by appellant - where appellant's evidence did not contradict respondent's statement - whether Jones v Dunkel inference available - whether Jones v Dunkel inference would have assisted appellant's case Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Amendment Act 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; (2009) 239 CLR 420 Axiak v Ingram [2012] NSWCA 311; (2012) 82 NSWLR 36 Chilcotin Pty Ltd v Cenelage Pty Ltd [1999] NSWCA 11 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Tormey [2009] NSWCA 135 Cook v Cook [1986] HCA 73; (1986)162 CLR 376 Coulton v Holcombe [1986] HCA 33; (1986) 162 CLR 1 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2011] HCA 21; (2011) 243 CLR 588 Derrick v Cheung [2001] HCA 48; (2001) 33 MVR 393 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12; (2005) 223 CLR 1 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan [2002] HCA 54; (2002) 211 CLR 540 Imbree v McNeilly [2008] HCA 40; (2008) 236 CLR 510 Ingram v Axiak [2013] HCATrans 64 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Manley v Alexander [2005] HCA 79; (2005) 80 ALJR 413 Manly Council v Byrne [2004] NSWCA 123 Marien v Gardiner [2013] NSWCA 396 McPherson's Ltd v Eaton [2005] NSWCA 435; (2005) 65 NSWLR 187 Minister Administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 v San Sebastian Pty Ltd [1983] 2 NSWLR 268 Mobbs v Kain [2009] NSWCA 301; (2009) 54 MVR 179 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; (2000) 205 CLR 254 Multicon Engineering Pty Ltd v Federal Airports Corp (1997) 47 NSWLR 631 New South Wales v Fahy [2007] HCA 20; (2007) 232 CLR 486 O'Brien v Komesaroff [1982] HCA 33; (1982) 150 CLR 310 Ras Behari Lal v King-Emperor (1933) 50 TLR 1 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Refrigerated Roadways Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 263; (2009) 77 NSWLR 360 Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory [1998] HCA 5; (1998) 192 CLR 431 Rowe v Australian United Steam Navigation Co Ltd [1909] HCA 25; (1909) 9 CLR 1 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Ltd [2000] HCA 18; (2000) 200 CLR 121 Shirt v Wyong Shire Council [1978] 1 NSWLR 631 Shoalhaven City Council v Pender [2013] NSWCA 210 Sinkovich v Attorney General of New South Wales [2013] NSWCA 383 Smith v Western Australia [2014] HCA 3 State Bank of NSW v Brown [2001] NSWCA 223; (2001) 38 ACSR 715 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) [1985] HCA 28; (1985) 59 ALJR 481 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 422 Whisprun Pty Ltd v Dixon [2003] HCA 48; (2003) 77 ALJR 1598 Texts Cited: Second Reading Speech, Motor Accidents Compensation Amendment Bill 2006 (New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates, (Hansard), 9 March 2006 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jesse Mamo - Appellant Steven Surace - Respondent Representation: Counsel: E G Romaniuk SC and D Hanna - Appellant K Rewell SC and T Renshaw - Respondent Solicitors: Napier Keen - Appellant Sparke Helmore Lawyers - Respondent File Number(s): CA 2013/83902 Publication restriction: No Decision under appeal Citation: Mamo v Surace, District Court (NSW), 22 February 2013, unrep) Date of Decision: 2013-02-22 00:00:00 Before: Delaney DCJ File Number(s): DC 2010/99458