Brown v Hewson [2015] NSWCA 393

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Brown v Hewson [2015] NSWCA 393 Hearing dates: 2 October 2015 Date of orders: 14 December 2015 Decision date: 14 December 2015 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Sackville AJA at [13]; Adamson J at [113] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed in part. 2. Set aside the verdict and judgment given by English DCJ for the Plaintiff in the sum of $192,721. 3. In lieu of the judgment referred to in Order 2, enter judgment for the Plaintiff in the sum of $92,721. 4. Otherwise dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – duty of care – breach of duty –child at day care centre was allowed to climb on balance beam with shoes on incorrect feet – beam exceeding height prescribed in regulations by 50 mm

TORTS – negligence – common law causation – whether failure to detect incorrect footwear materially contributed to accident – whether height of beam materially contributed to accident – whether plaintiff sustained any head injury in the accident

DAMAGES – past and future economic loss – buffer – whether finding plaintiff had suffered loss of earning capacity supported by evidence Legislation Cited: Centre Based and Mobile Child Care Services Regulation (No. 2) 1996 (NSW) Children (Care and Protection) Act 1987 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adelaide Stevedoring Company Ltd v Forst [1940] HCA 45; 64 CLR 538 Amaca Pty Ltd v Booth [2011] HCA 53; 246 CLR 36 Bendix Mintex Pty Ltd v Barnes, (1997) 42 NSWLR 307 (1997) 42 NSWLR 307; Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 408 Betts v Whittingslowe [1945] HCA 31; 71 CLR 637 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48; 106 CLR 340 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Montgomery [2005] NSWCA 432 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Fox [2009] HCA 35; 240 CLR 1 March v Stramare (E & MH) Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 12; 171 CLR 507 McGhee v National Coal Board [1973] 1 WLR 1 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99; (2008) Aust Torts Reports ¶81-949 Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 Roads and Traffic Authority v Royal [2008] HCA 19; 82 ALJR 870 State of New South Wales v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133; 54 NSWLR 536 Sydney South West Area Health Service v Stamoulis [2009] NSWCA 153 Wilsher v Essex Area Health Authority [1988] AC 1074 Woods v Multi-Sport Holdings Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 9; 208 CLR 460 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rodney Brown and Rowena Brown t/as Town and Country Children's Centre (Appellant) Benjamin Hewson by his tutor Sharon Hewson (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Cavanagh SC / S Maybury (Appellant) MJ Cranitch SC / MB Inglis (Respondent)