Solomons v Pallier [2015] NSWCA 266

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Solomons v Pallier [2015] NSWCA 266 Hearing dates: 22 July 2015 Decision date: 03 September 2015 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Meagher JA at [10]; Simpson JA at [97] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the judgment for the respondent (as plaintiff) given on 12 November 2014 and entered on 13 November 2014. 3. Judgment for the respondent (as plaintiff) for $1,474,256, that judgment to take effect on 12 November 2014. 4. Order that the appellant pay 25% of the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – contributory negligence – where respondent suffered injuries in motor accident whilst travelling in vehicle driven by intoxicated driver – whether primary judge erred in finding that driver intentionally drove vehicle partly off the roadway thereby causing accident

TORTS – negligence – contributory negligence – passenger in vehicle driven by intoxicated driver injured – whether relevant risk of harm to passenger was of injury as a result of travelling in vehicle with mildly intoxicated driver – whether reasonable person in passenger's position would have taken precaution of declining to travel with driver – whether primary judge erred in finding no reduction of damages for contributory negligence – just and equitable reduction where passenger 16 years old, actual or constructive knowledge of extent of driver's impairment was that it was mild and driver intentionally drove vehicle partly off the roadway, thereby causing accident Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5R, 5S Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW), s 9 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3, 138 Cases Cited: Bibby Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd v Sharma [2014] NSWCA 37 Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; 60 CLR 336 Davis v Swift [2014] NSWCA 458; 69 MVR 375 Elite Protective Personnel Pty Ltd v Salmon (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 373 Environment Agency v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1999] 2 AC 22 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Garzo v Liverpool/Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 Gordon v Truong; Truong v Gordon [2014] NSWCA 97; 66 MVR 241 Joslyn v Berryman [2003] HCA 34; 214 CLR 552 Mackenzie v Nominal Defendant [2005] NSWCA 180; 43 MVR 315 Morton v Knight [1990] 2 Qd R 419 Nominal Defendant v Green; Nominal Defendant v Golding; Nominal Defendant v Campbell [2013] NSWCA 219; 64 MVR 354 Nominal Defendant v Lane [2004] NSWCA 405 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith [2015] NSWCA 90; 320 ALR 235 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; 59 ALJR 492 Shaw v Thomas [2010] NSWCA 169 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; 223 CLR 422 Williams v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (1995) 21 MVR 148 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Trent Leigh Solomons (Appellant) Charles John Kavanagh Pallier by his tutor the NSW Trustee and Guardian (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: K P Rewell SC (Appellant) P W Taylor SC with S Hickey (Respondent)