Grant v Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW [2014] NSWSC 379

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Grant v Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW [2014] NSWSC 379 Hearing dates: 15 July 2013, 16 July 2013, 17 July 2013, 22 July 2013, 23 July 2013 Decision date: 31 March 2014 Before: Rothman J Decision: Judgment for the plaintiff; The plaintiff shall calculate damage to reflect the assessment in these reasons and serve same on the defendant within 14 days hereof; The defendant shall either agree or dispute the aforesaid calculations as one reflecting these reasons within a further 7 days; If there be disagreement, the plaintiff and defendant shall file and serve written submissions (or a note and schedule) within a further fourteen (14) days, together with any application and supporting material, for any special orders for costs. Such submissions shall be no more than 5 pages and the issues will be dealt with on the papers; The parties have liberty to apply on two (2) working days' notice; Otherwise, the proceedings are adjourned and further judgment reserved. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE - Duty of care - roads authority - motorbike rider injured in collision with median strip fence - Standard of Care - Special Statutory Power - Additional more stringent standard - Civil Liability Act s 5B, s 5C, s 5D and s 43A. Legislation Cited: Bail Act 1978 Civil Liability Act 2002 Felons (Civil Proceedings) Act 1981 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 Cases Cited: Adams v State of NSW [2008] NSWSC 1257 Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; (2009) 239 CLR 420 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales; Kelly v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales [2010] NSWCA 328 Andress v DPP [1937] AC 576 Associated Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council [2001] HCA 29; 206 CLR 512 Carr v Baker [1936] SR (NSW) 301 Cotton v Commissioner for Road Transport and Tramways [1942] 43 SR (NSW) 66 Curtis v Harden Shire Council [2012] NSWSC 757 Doubleday v Kelly [2005] NSWCA 151 Giorginis v Kastrati (1988) 48 SASR 371 Road Transport Authority v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; (2007) CLR 330 Jones v Dunkel [1951] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Joslyn v Berryman [2003] HCA 34; (2003) 214 CLR 552 Nydam v R [1977] VR 430 Patsalis v State of New South Wales [2012] NSWCA 307; (2012) 81 NSWLR 742 Precision Productions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council [2008] NSWCA 278 Podrebersek v Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; (1985) 59 ALJR 492 Presland V Hunter Area Health Service [2003] NSWSC 754 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 R v Buttsworth [1981] 1 NSWLR 658 R v Lavender [2005] HCA 37; (2005) 222 CLR 67 R v Michael John Brown [2013] NSWCCA 178 Rickard & Ors v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd & Ors [2009] NSWSC 1115 RTA v Refrigerated Roadways Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 263; (2009) 77 NSWLR 360 Shaw v Thomas [2010] NSWCA 169 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5;(2012) 246 CLR 182 Swain v Waverley Municipal Council [2005] HCA 4; (2005) 220 CLR 517 Sydney Water Corporation v Turano [2009] HCA 42; (2009) 239 CLR 51 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 422 Williams v Commonwealth [2012] HCA 23; (2012) 248 CLR 156 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40 Texts Cited: RTA Road Design Guide (March 1988)