Doak v GJ & BP Chard [2015] NSWSC 431

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Doak v GJ & BP Chard [2015] NSWSC 431 Hearing dates: 02 April 2015 Date of orders: 17 April 2015 Decision date: 17 April 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison AsJ Decision: The Court orders that:

(1) The notice of motion filed 30 January 2015 is dismissed.

(2) The cross defendant is to pay the cross claimants' costs as agreed or assessed on an ordinary basis. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for summary judgment – application for stay of cross-claim – where plaintiff in partnership – where cross-claim alleges contributory negligence against plaintiff and her partner personally – whether plaintiff's partner liable under s 5(1)(c) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act – whether a partnership can be liable for personal injuries – whether duty of care arises from partnership relationship or is a delictual duty owed personally – whether permitting cross-claim to proceed would cause circuity of action – whether permitting cross-claim to proceed would result in hardship Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Federal Court Act 1976 (Cth) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) Partnership Act 1892 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Davie v New Merton Board Mills Ltd [1959] 1 All 346; [1959] AC 604 Eastern Extension, A/asia & China Telegraph Co Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1923) 33 CLR 426 Facchini v Facchini [2002] WADC 127 Huston v Burns [1955] Tas SR 3 Idameneo (No 123) Pty Ltd v Gross (2012) 83 NSWLR 643 Lister v Romford Ice and Cold Storage Co [1957] 1 All ER 125; [1957] AC 555 Mair v Wood [1948] SC 83 McCamley v Harris (1997) 8 BPR 15,683 New South Wales v Plaintiff A [2012] NSWCA 248 O'Brien v Bank of Western Australia Ltd [2013] NSWCA 71 Spencer v Commonwealth of Australia [2010] HCA 28; (2010) 241 CLR 118 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Margaret Doak (Plaintiff) GJ Chard (First Defendant/First Cross Claimant) BP Chard (Second Defendant/Second Cross Claimant) William Charles Doak (Cross Defendant) Representation: Counsel: SM Kettle (Plaintiff/Cross Defendant) MT McCulloch SC with RD Glover (Defendants/Cross Claimants)