Larsen v Grace Worldwide (Aust) Pty Limited (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 1224

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Larsen v Grace Worldwide (Aust) Pty Limited (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 1224 Hearing dates: 21 April 2015, 22 April 2015, 23 April 2015, 24 April 2015, 27 April 2015, 28 April 2015, 29 April 2015, 4 May 2015 and 5 May 2015 Date of orders: 28 August 2015 Decision date: 28 August 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Schmidt J Decision: While the bulk of Mr and Mrs Larsen's claims have failed, there must be judgment in their favour. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – personal injury – mishandling of goods – whether substance on goods was toxic – not established – whether substance contaminated possessions and property – not established – whether substance caused ill health – not established – issues of credit – whether anyone tried to kill or seriously injure plaintiffs – not established – whether defendant had any responsibility for such conduct as bailee – not established – damages – damages for certain goods damaged in transit established – costs

BAILMENTS - bailment for reward - duties and liabilities of bailee

EVIDENCE - admissibility and relevancy - opinion evidence - failure of expert to comply with code of conduct Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), Cases Cited: Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; (1938) 60 CLR 336 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2007] FCAFC 132; (2007) 162 FCR 466 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2011] HCA 21; (2011) 243 CLR 588 Deatons Pty ltd v Flew [1949] HCA 60; (1949) 79 CLR 370 (1949) 79 CLR 370 HG v The Queen [1999] HCA 2; (1999) 197 CLR 414 Hobbs v Petersham Transport Co Pty Ltd [1971] HCA 26; (1971) 124 CLR 220 Larsen v The University of New England (District Court (NSW), Robison DCJ, 16 March 2000, unrep) Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 UNE v Larsen-Walsh [2000] NSWCA 363 Vu v New South Wales Crime Commission [2013] NSWCA 282 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Terry Larsen (First Plaintiff) Uta Larsen (Second Plaintiff) Grace Worldwide (Aust) Pty Limited t/as Grace Removals Group (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr R Cavanagh SC with Mr Potter (Defendant)