Goldsmith by her tutor the New South Wales Trustee and Guardian v Bisset (No 3) [2015] NSWSC 634

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Goldsmith by her tutor the New South Wales Trustee and Guardian v Bisset (No 3) [2015] NSWSC 634 Hearing dates: 28, 29, 30 October and 6 November 2014 Date of orders: 29 May 2015 Decision date: 29 May 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: My orders are: The questions ordered to be determined separately under Rule 28.2 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) are answered as follows: Question 1: Were the plaintiff's injuries caused by the negligence of the defendant? Answer: Yes. Question 2:Was the plaintiff guilty of contributory negligence? Answer: No. Under Rule 28.3 enter judgment for the plaintiff for damages to be assessed; The defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs of and incidental to the separate question proceedings on the ordinary basis after they have been agreed or assessed; List the matter for directions before the Common Law Registrar at 9 am on Friday, 26th June 2015. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) – injuries arising from a collision with a young child on a pushbike – liability of driver – whether 9 year old child with developmental disabilities and not wearing a helmet is contributorily negligent under s138 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) s 5R Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW)

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – principle – purposive construction - construction of s 138(2)(d) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) – legislative intention – whether minor was to be included or excluded from a finding of contributory negligence for not wearing a helmet Legislation Cited: Australian Road Rules (NSW) Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW); Evidence Act 1995 (NSW); Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW); Motor Accidents Act 1988 (NSW); Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW); Road Transport (Safety & Traffic Management) (Road Rules) Regulation 1999 (NSW) Cases Cited: Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v Cosmidis (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 139; Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1981] HCA 26; 147 CLR 297; Davis v Swift [2014] NSWCA 458; 69 MVR 375; Derrick v Cheung [2001] HCA 48; 181 ALR 301; Doubleday v Kelly [2005] NSWCA 151; Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118; Hoyt v Rosenburg (1947) 173 AmLR 883; Imbree v McNeilly [2008] HCA 40; 236 CLR 510; Inco Europe Limited v First Choice Distribution [2000] 1 WLR 586; Joseph v Swallow and Ariell Pty Ltd [1933] HCA 47; 49 CLR 578, Joslyn v Berryman [2003] HCA 34; 214 CLR 552; Lithgow City Council v Jackson [2011] HCA 36; 244 CLR 352; Lynch v Nurdin (1841) 1 QB 29; Manley v Alexander [2005] HCA 79; 80 ALJR 413; McHale v Watson [1966] HCA 13; 115 CLR 199; Newcastle City Council v GIO General Limited [1997] HCA 53; 191 CLR 85; Pennington v Norris [1956] HCA 26; 96 CLR 10; Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; 59 ALJR 492; Taylor v Owners – Strata Plan No 11564 [2014] HCA 9; 88 ALJR 473; The Town of Port Headland v Hodder (No 2) [2012] WASCA 212; 43 WAR 383; Verryt v Schoupp [2015] NSWCA 128; Waverley Council v Ferreira [2005] NSWCA 418; Aust. Torts Reports 81 – 818; Wentworth Securities Limited v Jones [1980] AC 74 Texts Cited: New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 29 November 1988 at 3833 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Charmayne Louise Goldsmith by her Tutor (The New South Wales Trustee and Guardian) (Plaintiff) Luke Bisset (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr Maconachie QC with Mr Regattieri for the Plaintiff Mr Stitt QC with Mr Ryan for the Defendant