Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith [2015] NSWCA 90

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith [2015] NSWCA 90 Hearing dates: 16, 17, 18 September 2014 Decision date: 09 April 2015 Before: Barrett JA; Gleeson JA; Tobias AJA Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside orders (1) and (6) made by Beech-Jones J on 27 November 2013 and substitute the following orders: "(1)Verdict and judgment for the Defendant against the Plaintiff." "(6)Otherwise, the Plaintiff pay the Defendant's costs of the proceedings on the ordinary basis." 3. The respondent pay one-half of the appellant's costs of the appeal. 4. The respondent, if qualified, to have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act 1951 (NSW). Catchwords: TORTS - negligence – accident boarding chairlift – chair approached with safety bar down – lift operator raised bar - duty of care - nature and scope of duty - relevant risk – breach of duty of care – causation - whether breach causative of damage suffered – materialisation of inherent risk – quantification of damages CONTRACTS – terms – implied terms – s 74(1) of the Trade Practices Act – duty to render services with "due care and skill" – breach of implied term – assessment of damages – quantification of damages – ss 4L, 68, 68B, 74(1) of the Trade Practices Act – contract for the provision of "recreational services" – effect exclusion clauses relating to more than personal injury or death – s 4L – "contravention" of the act CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - operation and effect of the Commonwealth Constitution - inconsistency of laws (Constitution, s 109) – s 74(1) of the Trade Practices Act – Part 2 of the Civil Liability Act – direct inconsistency – quantification of damages – "full contractual liability" DAMAGES – appellate review – applicable principles – diminution in work capacity – cause of diminution – calculation of rate for domestic assistance Legislation Cited: Carriage of Goods by Land (Carrier's Liability) Act 1967 (Qld) Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act (No. 2) 2010 (Cth) The Commonwealth Constitution Act 1901 (Cth) Cases Cited: Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (HCA, unreported, 27th April 1951) Davis v Bunn [1936] HCA 44; 56 CLR 246 Derrick v Cheung [2001] HCA 48; 181 ALR 301 Garzo v Liverpool/Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan [2002] HCA 54; 211 CLR 540 Griffiths v Kerkemeyer [1977] HCA 45; 139 CLR 161 Insight Vacations v Young [2010] NSWCA 137 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298 Luxton v Vines [1952] HCA 19; 85 CLR 352 at 358 Manley v Alexander [2005] HCA 79; 80 ALJR 413 McKenna v Hunter & New England Local Health District; Simon v Hunter & New England Local Health District [2013] NSWCA 476 Motorcycling Events Group Australia Pty Ltd v Kelly [2013] NSWCA 361; 86 NSWLR 55 Nair-Smith v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 727 Nair-Smith v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] NSWSC 1463 Nair-Smith v Perisher Blue Pty Ltd (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 1736 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 Shaw v Thomas [2010] NSWCA 169 Treasury Legislative Amendment (Professional Standards) Act 2004 (Cth), Wallis v Downard-Pickford (North Queensland) Pty Ltd [1994] HCA 17; 179 CLR 388 Wilson v Peisley (1976) 50 ALJR 207 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Perisher Blue Pty Ltd (Appellant) Ghita Nair-Smith (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr J E Sexton SC/Mr R E Montgomery (Appellant) Mr B M J Toomey QC/Mr G J Smith (Respondent) Solicitors: HBA Legal (Appellant) Lough & Wells Lawyers (Respondent) File Number(s): CA 2013/381571 Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Supreme Court of New South Wales Jurisdiction: Common Law Division Citation: [2013] NSWSC 727 [2013] NSWSC 1463 [2013] NSWSC1736 Date of Decision: 7 June 2013 4 October 2013 27 November 2013 Before: Beech-Jones J File Number(s): SC2006/294818