Oberlechner v Hornsby Shire Council [2017] NSWSC 23

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Oberlechner v Hornsby Shire Council [2017] NSWSC 23 Hearing dates: 5, 6, 7 & 8 December 2016 Decision date: 02 February 2017 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adams J Decision: 1. Judgment is made in the plaintiff's favour. 2. The plaintiff is awarded $380,640 plus interest in accordance with the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), and costs. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – road authority – physical injury – injury suffered as a result of a fall – concussion – actual knowledge of risk – vegetative barrier to risk – contributory negligence – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – pre-existing mental impairment – limited capacity to work – life expectancy reduced. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) ss 5B, 5D, 5R, 13, 16, 43A, 45 Roads Act 1993 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak (2009) 239 CLR 420; [2009] HCA 48 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512; [2001] HCA 29 Benic v New South of Wales [2010] NSWSC 1039 Berkeley Challenge Pty Ltd v Howarth [2013] NSWCA 370 Curtis v Harden Shire Council (2014) 88 NSWLR 10; [2014] NSWCA 314 Gordon v Truong (2014) 66 MVR 241; [2014] NSWCA 97 Hall v State of New South Wales [2014] NSWCA 154 Jones v Schiffmann (1971) 124 CLR 303 Leichhardt Council v Serratore [2005] NSWCA 406 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; [1990] HCA 20 New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536; [2000] NSWCA 133 North Sydney Council v Roman (2007) 69 NSWLR 240; [2007] NSWCA 27 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Miller; Miller v Lithgow City Council (2015) 91 NSWLR 752; [2015] NSWCA 320 Wilson v Nilepac Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 63 Yammine v Kalwy [1979] 2 NSWLR 251 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Alfred Oberlechner (Plaintiff) Hornsby Shire Council (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Self-represented (Plaintiff) R Gambi (Defendant)