Allen v Strata Plan 54664 [2016] NSWDC 217

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Allen v Strata Plan 54664 [2016] NSWDC 217 Hearing dates: 4 and 5 April 2016; 3, 11 and 27 May 2016; written submissions to 10 June 2016 Date of orders: 16 September 2016 Decision date: 16 September 2016 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff. (2) Liberty to the parties to bring in short minutes of order reflecting the mathematically agreed calculation of damages. (3) Defendant pay plaintiff's costs. (4) Liberty to apply in relation to costs. (5) Exhibits retained for 28 days. Catchwords: TORT – negligence – resident of strata title premises trips on mat placed on top of elevator floor carpet to protect it while another occupant moves into the building – duty of care – breach of duty – defendant's code of conduct for safe removals not complied with – obvious risk – contributory negligence – assessment of damages for non-economic loss and home care for 88-year old plaintiff Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5G, 5R and 5S Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 46 and 59 Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak (2009) 239 CLR 420 Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v Cosmidis [2013] NSWCA 443 Carey v Lake Macquarie City Council (2007) Aust Torts Reports 81-874 Davis v Council of the City of Wagga Wagga [2004] NSWCA 34 Edson v Roads and Traffic Authority (2006) 65 NSWLR 453 Fallas v Mourlas (2006) 65 NSWLR 418 Ferguson v McDonalds Australia Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 401 Gulic v O'Neill [2011] NSWCA 361 Hill v Richards [2011] NSWCA 291 In Vitro Technologies Pty Ltd v Taylor [2011] QCA 44 Insurance Commissioner v Joyce (1948) 77 CLR 39 Jackson v McDonald's Australia Ltd [2014] NSWCA 162 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kappadoukas v Fransepp Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 366 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Metaxoulis v McDonald's Australia Ltd [2015] NSWCA 95 Neate v Fox (2012) 13 DCLR (NSW) 319 Perrett v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority; Wine & Vine Personnel Pty Ltd v Same [2009] NSWSC 1026 Stojan (No 9) Pty Ltd v Kenway [2009] NSWCA 364 Sutherland Shire Council v Henshaw [2004] NSWCA 386 Reece v Reece (1994) 19 MVR 103 Temora Shire Council v Stein (2004) LGERA 407 Thompson v Woolworths (Queensland) Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 234 Varga v Galea [2011] NSWCA 76 Woolworths Limited v Lawlor [2004] NSWCA 209 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 Wyong Shire Council v Vairy (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-754 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Shirley Allen Defendant: Strata Plan 54664 Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: Mr P Jones Defendant: Mr N Chen