Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Barrie Toepfer Earthmoving and Land Management Pty Ltd (No 7) [2014] NSWSC 1188

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Barrie Toepfer Earthmoving and Land Management Pty Ltd (No 7) [2014] NSWSC 1188 Hearing dates: 23 July 2012 - 31 July 20121 August 2012 - 15 August 20122 November 201212 December 201212 August 2013 26 August 2013 2 September 2013 - 30 September 2013 1 October 2013 - 2 October 201315 October 20132 December 2013 - 12 December 2013 Decision date: 28 August 2014 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Price J Decision: 1. Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff (the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales now known as Roads and Maritime Services) against the first defendant (Barrie Toepfer Earthmoving and Land Management Pty Ltd). 2. Verdict and judgment for the cross-defendants (CGU Insurance Ltd, Vero Insurance Ltd, and NTI Ltd) against the cross-claimant (Barrie Toepfer Earthmoving and Land Management Pty Ltd) on the first cross-claim. 3. Verdict and judgment for the cross-defendants (the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales, and the State of New South Wales) against the cross-claimant (Barrie Toepfer Earthmoving and Land Management Pty Ltd) on the second and third cross-claims. 4. See 'Orders for Referral' at p 172. Catchwords: CIVIL - s 102(2) Roads Act - Hexham Bridge - truck load over height - whether negligence or culpability is a necessary ingredient of a claim - whether RTA officer directed re-configuration of load which increased the height above the maximum permissible - whether RTA officer breached his duty of care - INSURANCE - whether truck driver was reckless - conditions of insurance policy - whether driver had actual knowledge of the danger - whether finding of driver's recklessness entitled insurers to refuse indemnity - whether s 234 Roads Act protects RTA and State from suit - whether RTA officer was employed in the service of the Crown - CAUSATION - whether RTA officer's negligence was a necessary condition of damage - whether RTA officer was acting in good faith - whether inconsistency between s 49 Roads Transport (General) Act and s 234 Roads Act - whether s 102 Roads Act displaces concepts of the law of damages - consideration of cost of making good the damage - whether cost of investigating damage falls outside s 102 whether principles of reasonableness have relevance - DAMAGE - pre-existing damage - whether recovery limited to making good damage to bridge caused in accident - whether defendant must take bridge as it found it - whether defendant's liability reduced for pre-existing damage - findings as to pre-existing damage - findings as to damage caused in the accident - expert evidence - emergency repairs - mechanical damage and other inspections - traffic control - whether defendant liable for replacement of ropes and counterweights - lift span repairs - structural bridge repairs - mechanical - electrics - referral to referee. Legislation Cited: Australian Road Rules r 102 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) ss 3A, 5B, 5B(2)(b), 5B(2)(c), 5D, 5D(1), 43, 46 Fire Brigades Act 1909-1956 (NSW) s 46 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 30, 30(1) Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983 (NSW) s 8 Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) London Government Act 1939 (UK) s 181(3) Main Roads Act 1924-1954 (NSW) s 40 Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2003 (NSW) Road Transport (General) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 6, 49, 49(1), 49(2), 49(2)(b) Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 1998 (NSW) cl 56 Sch 4.76 Roads Act 1993 (NSW) ss 102, 102(1), 102(2), 231, 231(1)(b), 234, 247 Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW) s 46(3) Transport Legislation Amendment Act 2011 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 20.14 Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; (2009) 239 CLR 420 Allison Insurance Co Ltd v Body Corporate Strata Plan No 4303 [1983] 2 VR 339 Board of Fire Commissioners (NSW) v Ardouin (1961) 109 CLR 105 British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co Ltd v Underground Electric Railways Co of London Ltd [1912] AC 673 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council [2001] 206 CLR 512 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Cambridge v Anastasopoulos [2012] NSWCA 405 Carslogie SS Co v Royal Norwegian Government [1952] AC 292 Commissioner for Main Roads v Engel 80 WN (NSW) 37 Dillingham Constructions Pty Ltd v Steel Mains Pty Ltd [1975] HCA 23; 132 CLR 323 Fraser v B N Furman (Productions) Ltd [1967] 1 WLR 898 Gagner Pty Ltd t/a Indochine Cafe v Canturi Corporation [2009] NSWCA 413 Harbutt's Plasticine Ltd v Wayne Tank and Pump Co Ltd [1970] 1 QB 447; [1970] 1 All ER 225; [1970] 1 Lloyd's Ref 14 Hoad v Scone Motors Pty Ltd [1977] 1 NSWLR 88 Hyder Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd v Wilh Wilhelmsen Agency Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 313 Kensington Borough Council v Waters [1960] 1 QB 361 Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd v Retail Traders Mutual Indemnity Insurance Association (1942) 42 SR (NSW) 231 Legal and General Insurance Australia Ltd v Eather (1986) 6 NSWLR 390 McCann v Switzerland Insurance Australia Ltd [2000] HCA 650 McColl v Dionisatos [2002] NSWSC 276 Murphy v Brown 1985 1 NSWLR 131 Performance Cars v Abraham [1961] EWCA Civ 3; [1962] 1 QB 33 Plasteel Windows Australia Pty Ltd v Sun Alliance (1989) 5 ANZ Ins Cas 60-918 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Barrie Toepfer Earthmoving and Land Management Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 1063 Sigmar Coachair Group Pty Ltd v Bock Australia Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 684 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5 The Stonedale No 1 [1954] C.A; [1954] 2 All ER 170 VACC Insurance Ltd v BP Australia Ltd [1999] NSWCA 427 Vero Insurance Limited v Power Technologies Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 226 Woolfall & Rimmer Ltd v Moyle [1942] KB 66 Texts Cited: Halsbury's Laws of Australia, vol 9 Harvey McGregor, McGregor on Damages, (17th ed 2003, Sweet and Maxwell) Kenneth Sutton, Insurance Law in Australia, (3rd ed 1999, LBC Information Services) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales (Plaintiff - Cross-defendant) Barrie Toepfer Earthmoving and Land Management Pty Ltd (First-defendant - Cross-claimant) State of New South Wales (Cross-defendant) CGU Insurance Limited, Vero Insurance Limited, and NTI Limited (Cross-defendants - second cross-claim) Representation: Mr Glissan QC & Mr Manion (Plaintiff – Cross-defendant)Mr Toepfer in person (First-defendant – Cross-claimant)Mr Deakin QC and Mr Stockley (Cross-defendants – second cross-claim) Solicitors: Mr Saxton and Mr Davis - Robertson Saxton Primrose Dunn (Plaintiff - Cross-defendant) Mr Hedges and Ms Antoun - Walker Hedges Solicitors (Cross-defendants - second cross-claim) File Number(s): 2009/293003