Port Macquarie Hastings Council v Mooney [2014] NSWCA 156

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Port Macquarie Hastings Council v Mooney [2014] NSWCA 156 Hearing dates: 14 April 2014 Decision date: 20 May 2014 Before: Emmett JA at [1]; Sackville AJA at [6]; Simpson J at [87] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the orders made by the primary Judge on 19 June 2013. 3. In lieu thereof make the following orders: 1. Judgment for the defendant (Council). 2. The plaintiff pay the Council's costs of the proceedings. 4. The respondent pay the Council's costs of the appeal. 5. The respondent, if otherwise qualified, to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW). [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 - duty of care - pedestrian deviated from footpath and fell sustaining injury - identification of the relevant risk of harm - effect of failure to identify relevant risk on consideration of precautions a reasonable person in the position of the Council would have taken Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) ss 5B, 5C, 43A Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; 239 CLR 420 Bellingen Shire Council v Colavon Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 34; 188 LGERA 169 Garzo v Liverpool / Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 Koehler v Cerebos (Australia) Limited [2005] HCA 15; 222 CLR 44 Mooney v Port Macquarie Hastings Council (District Court (NSW), McLoughlin DCJ, 9 May 2013, unrep) Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Refrigerated Roadways Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 263; 77 NSWLR 360 State of New South Wales v Fahy [2007] HCA 20; 232 CLR 486 Tran v Nominal Defendant [2011] NSWCA 220; 58 MVR 462 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; 223 CLR 422 Yarrabee Coal Co Pty Ltd v Lujans [2009] NSWCA 85; 53 MVR 187 Texts Cited: Dominic Villa, Annotated Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), (2nd ed 2013, Lawbook Co.) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Port Macquarie Hastings Council (Appellant) Sheila Mooney (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: