Schultz v McCormack [2015] NSWCA 330

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Schultz v McCormack [2015] NSWCA 330 Hearing dates: 28 July 2015 Date of orders: 23 October 2015 Decision date: 23 October 2015 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [132], Beech-Jones J at [144] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Verdict and judgment for the respondents entered on 23 June 2014 set aside. (3) Judgment for the appellant in the sum of $750,000 to date from 23 June 2014. (4) Cross-appeal dismissed with costs. (5) Respondents to pay the appellant's costs in this court and in the court below and to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) if otherwise qualified. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – duty of care – breach of duty – occupier's liability – plaintiff slipped on wet tiled surface at night after rain – whether primary judge erred in characterising risk – whether primary judge erred in finding occupiers not negligent – whether primary judge erred in finding of contributory negligence

TORTS – negligence – duty of care – whether risk of harm that materialised an "obvious risk" within Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 5F(1) such that occupier did not owe plaintiff duty of care to warn of it

TORTS – negligence – damages – whether primary judge erred in assessment of domestic assistance claim Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) District Court Act 1973 (NSW) Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) Cases Cited: Action Paintball Games Pty Ltd (In liquidation) v Barker [2013] NSWCA 128 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna [1987] HCA 7; (1987) 162 CLR 479 Bankstown Foundry Pty Ltd v Braistina [1986] HCA 20; (1986) 160 CLR 301 Cherry v Jaymardo Pty Ltd [1998] NSWCA 57 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Haluka [2012] NSWCA 345 Collins v Clarence Valley Council (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 1682 Collins v Clarence Valley Council [2015] NSWCA 263 Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528 Glad Retail Cleaning Pty Ltd v Alvarenga [2013] NSWCA 482; (2013) 86 NSWLR 191 Jaber v Rockdale City Council [2008] NSWCA 98; (2008) Aust Rep ¶81-952 Jackson v McDonald's Australia Ltd [2014] NSWCA 162 Jones v Bartlett [2000] HCA 56; (2000) 205 CLR 166 Kocis v SE Dickens Pty Ltd [1998] 3 VR 408 Koehler v Cerebos (Australia) Ltd [2005] HCA 15; (2005) 222 CLR 44 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd [2011] HCA 11; (2011) 243 CLR 361 Paul v Cooke [2013] NSWCA 311; (2013) 85 NSWLR 167 Phillis v Daly (1988) 15 NSWLR 65 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; (2007) 234 CLR 330 Tobin v Ezekiel [2012] NSWCA 285; (2012) 83 NSWLR 757 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 422 Wilkinson v Law Courts Ltd Wyong Shire Council v Vairy [2004] NSWCA 247; (2004) Aust Torts Reports ¶81-754 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sheran Ann Schultz (Appellant) Norman McCormack (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Sheldon SC and M Sciglitano (Appellant)