Nominal Defendant v Smith [2015] NSWCA 339

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Nominal Defendant v Smith [2015] NSWCA 339 Hearing dates: 18 September 2015 Decision date: 03 November 2015 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [60]; Simpson JA at [98] Decision: (1) Allow the appeal and set aside the judgment against the Nominal Defendant given in the District Court on 6 February 2015.

(2) Set aside orders (1)-(4) made in the District Court and in place thereof:

(a) give judgment for the plaintiff against the first defendant (Ryan Harris) in the sum of $425,366;

(b) order that the first defendant pay the plaintiff's costs of the first trial.

(3) Remit to the District Court the remaining issues, including any claim by the first defendant for contribution to the costs payable by it to the plaintiff.

(4) Order that the second respondent (Ryan Harris) pay the costs of the appellant in this Court. Catchwords: APPEAL – civil – function of appellate court in relation to fact finding at trial – motor accident – claim against Nominal Defendant, Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), s 34 – whether unidentified vehicle involved – whether primary judge erred in his findings of fact – whether primary judge assessed testimonial evidence on the balance of probabilities – whether findings made on reliability of witness evidence Legislation Cited: District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 127 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 34, 145 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 51.53 Cases Cited: Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167 Armagas Ltd v Mundogas SA [1985] 1 Lloyds LR 1 Biogen Inc v Medeva plc [1997] RPC 1 Bradley v Matloob [2015] NSWCA 239 Cashman v Kinnear [1973] 2 NSWLR 495 Dearman v Dearman (1908) 7 CLR 549 Doe d Devine v Wilson (1855) 10 Moo PC 502; 14 ER 581 Dunleavy v Peak [2009] NSWCA 72 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Limited v Arsic [2006] NSWCA 187; 66 NSWLR 186 James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v Seltsam Pty Ltd (1998) CLR 53; [1998] HCA 78 Jereme Smith v Ryan Harris & The Nominal Defendant [2014] NSWDC 254 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298 Mitchell v Cullingral Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 389 Nominal Defendant v Mokbel [2015] NSWCA 3 R v Gittany (No 4) [2013] NSWSC 1737 Sodeman v The King (1936) 55 CLR 192 Speirs v Caledonian Collieries Ltd (1957) 57 SR(NSW) 483 Timberland Property Holdings Ltd v Julie Bundy [2005] NSWCA 419 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531 Williams v The Minister Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 [2000] NSWCA 255 Texts Cited: P McClellan, "Who Is Telling the Truth? Psychology, Common Sense and the Law" (2006) 80 ALJ 655 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Nominal Defendant (Appellant/Cross-Respondent) Jereme Smith (First Respondent) Ryan Harris (Second Respondent/Cross-Appellant) Representation: Counsel: K P Rewell SC/W M Fitzsimmons (Appellant/Cross-Respondent) No appearance (First Respondent) P Deakin QC/D Ronzani (Second Respondent/Cross-Appellant)