Rankin v Gosford City Council [2014] NSWSC 1354

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Rankin v Gosford City Council [2014] NSWSC 1354 Hearing dates: 9 - 13 December 2013 Decision date: 02 October 2014 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Button J Decision: (1) Judgment for the defendant. (2) The plaintiff is to pay the cost of the defendant in the proceedings. Catchwords: TORTS - negligence - motorcyclist injured after colliding with traffic barriers placed across roadway by malefactors - whether council undertaking road works is liable for injuries - whether council protected by special non-feasance protection for roads authorities in s 45 of Civil Liability Act - whether council owed plaintiff a duty of care for criminal acts of others Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 45 Roads Act 1993 (NSW), s 7(4) Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW) s 45E Cases Cited: Benic v State of NSW [2010] NSWSC 1039 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Council of the Shire of Wyong v Shirt and Others (1979) 146 CLR 40 Covalon Pty Ltd v Bellingen Shire Council [2008] NSWCA 355 Kavanagh v Ioannou [2002] NSWCA 2 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; 205 CLR 254 North Sydney Council v Roman [2007] NSWCA 27 Pettigrew v Wentworth Shire Council [2012] NSWSC 624 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Dederer (2007) HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Refrigerated Roadways Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 263 Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Steven Rankin (plaintiff) Gosford City Council (defendant) Representation: Counsel R S McIlwaine SC, R E Quickenden (plaintiff) J Guihot (defendant) Solicitors: Michael Kerridge & Co (plaintiff) Moray & Agnew (defendant) File Number(s): 2011/234040 Publication restriction: Nil