Viscardi v Hornsby Shire Council [2015] NSWDC 19

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Viscardi v Hornsby Shire Council [2015] NSWDC 19 Hearing dates: 4, 5 & 20 February 2015 Decision date: 04 March 2015 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Levy SC DCJ Decision: 1. Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $117,436.80;

2. The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs on the ordinary basis unless otherwise ordered;

3. The exhibits may be returned;

4. Liberty to apply on 7 days notice if further orders are required.

[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 – occupier's liability – council – plaintiff injured in a fall at night after stepping into a hole comprising a defect within the bitumen surface of a poorly lit council car park – whether fall due to negligence of occupier – misfeasance – whether obvious risk within meaning of s 5F and s 5G of Civil Liability Act 2002 – whether contributory negligence; DAMAGES – assessment of claimed heads of damage Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002, s 5B, s 5C, s 5D, s 5F, s 5G, s 15, s 16, s 42, s 43A, s 45 Evidence Act 1995, s 60 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWCA 13 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna [1987] HCA 7; (1987) 162 CLR 479 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council; Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council [2001] HCA 29; (2001) 206 CLR 512 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Haleluka [2012] NSWCA 343 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2011] HCA 21; (2011) 243 CLR 588 Daw v Toyworld (NSW) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 25 Elayoubi v Zipser [2008] NSWCA 335 Girlock (Sales) Pty Ltd v Hurrell [1982] HCA 15; (1982) 149 CLR 155 Hill v Forrester [2010] NSWCA 170; (2010) 79 NSWLR 470 Holloway v McFeeters [1956] HCA 25; (1956) 94 CLR 470 Hunt v Knight Frank (NSW) Pty Ltd & Ors [2005] NSWCA 139 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Montgomery [2007] HCA 6 Luxton v Vines [1952] HCA 19 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; 205 CLR 254 Mt Isa Mines Ltd v Pusey [1970] HCA 60; (1970) 125 CLR 383 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; (2007) 234 CLR 330 State of NSW v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133, (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5, (2012) 246 CLR 182 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 442 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Paul Viscardi (Plaintiff) Hornsby Shire Council (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr H Halligan (Plaintiff) Mr R Gambi (Defendant)