Herne Investments (NSW) Pty Limited v Don Watson Proprietary Limited [2016] NSWCA 72

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Herne Investments (NSW) Pty Limited v Don Watson Proprietary Limited [2016] NSWCA 72 Hearing dates: 29 March 2016 Decision date: 13 April 2016 Before: Ward JA at [1]; Sackville AJA at [2]; Garling J at [71] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed. 2. Cross-appeal dismissed. 3. The Appellant pay the First and Second Respondents' costs of the appeal. 4. No order as to the costs of the cross-appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – claim for damage to truck – truck in slow lane fails to merge with overtaking lane and collides with guard rail – whether primary Judge erred in finding that truck in overtaking lane was not in breach of duty by not giving way – whether primary Judge failed to give adequate weight to video footage – whether primary Judge erred in finding that driver in slow lane was solely responsible for the accident

COSTS – indemnity costs – whether appellant justified in not accepting offer of compromise Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5C Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 92(2)

Road Rules 2008 (NSW), r 148 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 51.36(2) Cases Cited: Hazeldene's Chicken Farm Pty Ltd v Victorian WorkCover Authority (No 2) [2005] VSCA 298; 13 VR 435 Herne Investments (NSW) Pty Ltd v Don Watson Pty Ltd (District Court (NSW), 27 May 2015, unrep) Herne Investments (NSW) Pty Ltd v Don Watson Pty Ltd (District Court (NSW), 28 May 2015, unrep) Leach v Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd) (No 2); [2014] NSWCA 391; 18 ANZ Insurance Cases 62-049 Nominal Defendant v Smith [2015] NSWCA 339 Penrith v East Realisations Pty Ltd (in liq) [2013] NSWCA 64; 63 MVR 180 Port Macquarie Hastings Council v Mooney [2014] NSWCA 156; 201 LGERA 314 Regency Media Pty Ltd v AAV Australia Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 368 Verryt v Schoupp [2015] NSWCA 128; 70 MVR 484 Warren v Coombes [1979] HCA 9; 142 CLR 531 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Herne Investments (NSW) Pty Limited (Appellant) Don Watson Proprietary Limited (First Respondent) Nathan James Rhodes (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Moses SC / Mr A Parker / Ms R Gall (Appellant) Mr P Deakin QC / Mr AR Davis (Respondents)