Whitfield v Melenewycz [2016] NSWCA 235

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Whitfield v Melenewycz [2016] NSWCA 235 Hearing dates: 6 May 2016 Decision date: 31 August 2016 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Simpson JA at [49]; Sackville AJA at [50] Decision: 1. Grant leave to the appellants to appeal from the judgment and orders of the primary judge of 4 December 2015. 2. Direct the appellants to file their Notice of Appeal within 7 days. 3. Appeal allowed. 4. Set aside the judgment and orders made on 4 December 2015. 5. Judgment for the appellants as defendants in the proceedings. 6. Order the respondent pay the appellants' costs of the proceedings at first instance. 7. Order the respondent pay the appellants' costs of the application for leave to appeal and the appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) – "blameless accident" – where respondent driver of motorcycle injured in collision with kangaroo – where respondent not owner of motorcycle – where injury not caused by any use or operation of owner – where motor accident "blameless" because not caused by fault of owner or driver or any other person - whether respondent entitled to recover damages from owner – whether s 7B deems injury to have been caused by fault of owner in "use or operation" of vehicle where motor accident causing injury does not involve any use or operation by owner. Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3, 3A, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7E, 7F, 7K, 10, 112 Motor Accidents Compensation Amendment Act 2006 (NSW) Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act 1942 (NSW) Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GSF Australia Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 26; 221 CLR 568 Axiak v Ingram [2012] NSWCA 311; 82 NSWLR 36 Davis v Swift [2014] NSWCA 458; 69 MVR 375 Huseyin v Container Terminals Australia Ltd [2006] NSWCA 382; 46 MVR 1 Izzard v Dunbier Marine Products (NSW) Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 132 JA & BM Bowden & Sons Pty Ltd v Doughty [2009] NSWCA 82; 52 MVR 552 Leach v Nominal Defendant [2014] NSWCA 257; 67 MVR 494 Nominal Defendant v GLG Australia Pty Ltd [2006] HCA 11; 228 CLR 529 Nominal Defendant v Uele [2012] NSWCA 271; 82 NSWLR 308 Portlock v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 775; 44 MVR 147 RG & KM Whitehead Pty Ltd v Lowe [2013] NSWCA 117; 63 MVR 375 Simpson & Co v Thomson (1877) 3 App Cas 279 Syed v Crumpton [2016] NSWSC 500 TVH Australasia Pty Ltd v Chaseling [2012] NSWCA 149; 60 MVR 535 Wagga Truck Towing Pty Ltd v O'Toole; IAG Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v O'Toole [2011] NSWCA 191 Zotti v Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd [2009] NSWCA 323; 54 MVR 111 Zurich Australian Insurance Ltd v CSR Ltd [2001] NSWCA 261; 52 NSWLR 193 Texts Cited: New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 9 March 2006 Category: Principal judgment Parties: David Patrick Whitfield (First Appellant) AAI Limited t/a Suncorp Metway (Second Appellant) Anthony Melenewycz (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: K P Rewell SC with M Cleary (Appellants) R S Sheldon SC with J Gumbert (Respondent)