Waller v James [2015] NSWCA 232

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Waller v James [2015] NSWCA 232 Hearing dates: 10 & 11 June 2014 Decision date: 13 August 2015 Before: Beazley P at [1]; McColl JA at [215]; Ward JA at [234] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed; 2. The appellants to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: TORT – where parents of child born through in vitro fertilisation not given correct genetic information prior to IVF procedure – where child born with genetic disorder – where child suffers permanent disability as a result of stroke four days after birth

TORT – claim for infringement of right to plan family – whether claim for pure economic loss

NEGLIGENCE – duty of a medical practitioner – content and scope of duty – provision of information – duty to refer

NEGLIGENCE – causation – normative aspects – where risks of different adverse medical events are distinct

NEGLIGENCE – remoteness – whether harm within the scope of duty – whether harm reasonably foreseeable

APPEAL – challenge to findings of fact – appellate restraint – where findings made by reference to both objective circumstances and matters subjective to witnesses Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Health Care Liability Act 2001 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: Banque Bruxelles Lambert SA v Eagle Star Insurance Company Limited [1997] AC 191 Barnes v Hay (1988) 12 NSWLR 337 Breen v Williams [1996] HCA 57; 186 CLR 71 Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd v Dredge 'Willemstad' [1976] HCA 65; 136 CLR 529 Caltex Refineries (Qld) Pty Limited v Stavar [2009] NSWCA 258; 75 NSWLR 649 Cattanach v Melchior [2003] HCA 38; 215 CLR 1 Chapman v Hearse [1961] HCA 46; 106 CLR 112 Chappel v Hart [1998] HCA 55; 195 CLR 232 Crimmins v Stevedoring Committee [1999] HCA 59; 200 CLR 1 Environment Agency (formerly National Rivers Authority) v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1999] AC 22 F v R (1983) 33 SASR 189 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Gover v South Australia & Perram (1985) 39 SASR 543 Harriton v Stephens [2006] HCA 15; 226 CLR 52 Hawkins v Clayton [1988] HCA 15; 164 CLR 539 Henville v Walker [2001] HCA 52; (2001) 206 CLR 459 Hill v Van Erp [1997] HCA 9; 188 CLR 159 Hughes v the Lord Advocate [1963] AC 837 Hunt & Hunt Lawyers v Mitchell Morgan Nominees [2013] HCA 10; 247 CLR 613 Jaensch v Coffey [1984] HCA 52; 155 CLR 549 Kenny and Good v MGICA [1999] HCA 25; 199 CLR 413 Kuhl v Zurich [2011] HCA 11; 243 CLR 361 Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 37; 156 CLR 522 March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12; (1991) 171 CLR 506 McFarlane v Tayside Health Board [2000] 2 AC 59 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; 205 CLR 254 Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] UKSC 11 Mount Isa Mines Ltd v Pusey [1970] HCA 60; 125 CLR 383 Moyes v Lothian Health Board 1990 SCT 444; [1990] 1 Med LR 463 Nader v Urban Transit Authority of NSW (1985) 2 NSWLR 501 Overseas Tankships (UK) Ltd v The Miller Steamship Co [1967] 1 AC 617 (The Wagon Mound (No 2)) Overseas Tankships (UK) v Morts Dock and Engineering Co Ltd [1961] AC 388 (The Wagon Mound (No 1)) Paul v Cooke [2013] NSWCA 311; 85 NSWLR 167 Perre v Apand [1999] HCA 36; 198 CLR 180 Rees v Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust [2004] 1 AC 309 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 Roads and Traffic Authority v Royal [2008] HCA 19; 82 ALJR 870 Roe v Minister of Health [1954] 2 QB 66 Rogers v Whitaker [1992] HCA 58; 175 CLR 479 Rosenberg v Percival [2001] HCA 18; 205 CLR 434 Rowe v McCartney [1976] 2 NSWLR 72 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; 246 CLR 182 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 Tabet v Gett [2010] HCA 12; 240 CLR 537 Tame v New South Wales [2002] HCA 35; 211 CLR 317 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; 223 CLR 422 Wallace v Kam [2012] NSWCA 82; [2012] Aust Torts Reports ¶82-101 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; 250 CLR 375 Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia [1992] HCA 55; 175 CLR 514 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; 146 CLR 40 Texts Cited: Barker, Cane, Lunney and Trindade, The Law of Torts in Australia 5th ed, Oxford H Luntz, in Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury and Death 4th ed (2002) Butterworths Category: Principal judgment Parties: Deborah Waller (First Appellant) Lawrence Waller (Second Appellant) Dr Christopher James (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Higgs SC; E Peden (Appellants) J Kirk SC; V Thomas (Respondent)