Doble Express Transport Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) v John L Pierce Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 285

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Doble Express Transport Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) v John L Pierce Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 285 Hearing dates: 27, 28, 29 May; 29 June (for directions); 17 July and 21 August 2015 Date of orders: 04 December 2015 Decision date: 04 December 2015 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Hatzistergos DCJ Decision: See orders in paragraph [172] Catchwords: TORTS – negligence –motor vehicle accident – duty to warn – duty to signal to other drivers – obscured visibility due to fog – contributory negligence – damages

WORDS AND PHRASES – inherent risk – res ipsa loquitur Legislation Cited: Australian Road Rules (NSW) rr 25 and 69 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) ss 5B, 5D, 5I and 5R Cases Cited: Cheng v Geussens [2014] NSWCA 113 Chico v The Corporation of the City of Woodville (1990) Aust Torts Reports 81-028 Cooke v Roberts (unreported) No 4. 12 July 1990 SCSA Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2010] NSWCA 154 Derrick v Cheung [2001] HCA 48 Francis v Lewis [2003] NSWCA 152 Gindein v Ceraolo (1992) 16 MVR 198 Grills v Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 72 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Liverpool City Council v Estephan [2009] NSWCA 161 Nicholls-Chappell v Irving (2000) 32 MVR 102 Nominal Defendant v Clancy [2007] NSWCA 349 O'Neill v Liddle [2012] NSWCA 267 Paul v Cooke [2013] NSWCA 311 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34 Porter v New South Wales Insurance Ministerial Corporation [1995] NSWCA 376 Sibley v Kais (1967) 118 CLR 424 Tran v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (1994) 20 MVR 182 United Church Trust Property Trust v Miller [2015] NSWCA 320 Warth v Lafsky [2014] NSWCA 94 Wyong Shire Council v Vairy [2004] NSWCA 247 Zraika v Walsh [[2015] NSWSC 485 Texts Cited: I Freckelton and H Selby, Expert Evidence –Law, Practice, Procedure and Advocacy, Thomson Reuters, 5th Edition, 2013 JD Heydon, Cross on Evidence, Lexis Nexis, Butterworths, Sydney 10th Edition Category: Principal judgment Parties: Doble Express Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) (Plaintiff) John L Pierce (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Barham (Plaintiff) Mr A Combe (Defendant)