Doble Express Transport Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) v John L Pierce Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 352

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Doble Express Transport Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) v John L Pierce Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 352 Hearing dates: 17 November 2016 Decision date: 13 December 2016 Before: Ward JA at [1] Sackville AJA at [2] Hall J at [80] Decision: 1. Extend the time for filing a Notice of Appeal until 11 March 2016. 2. Appeal dismissed. 3. The Appellant pay the Respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: TORTS — negligence — vehicle turning from Highway and crossing north bound traffic lanes — collision with prime mover — whether foggy conditions and poor visibility made it unsafe to cross lanes on Highway — whether the speed the prime mover was travelling was excessive in the foggy conditions meaning it could not avoid the collision — whether primary Judge erred in finding that any breach of duty by the Appellant was causative of the loss sustained by the Respondent — whether primary Judge erred in assessing that the Appellant bore 40 per cent of the responsibility for the accident — whether the Appellant's vehicle had sufficient time and distance after entering the thick fog to slow to a speed that would have enabled the collision to be avoided Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5D, 5E, 5I, 5R

Road Rules 2008 (NSW), r 125 Cases Cited: Astley v Austrust Ltd (1999) 197 CLR 1; [1999] HCA 6 Broadhurst v Millman [1976] VR 208 Doble Express Transport Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) v John L Pierce Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 285 Francis v Lewis [2003] NSWCA 152 Gibbs v Kinna [1999] 2 VR 19; [1998] VSCA 52 Lanza v Codemo [2001] NSWSC 845 Mobbs v Kain [2009] NSWCA 301; 54 (2009) MVR 179 Pennington v Norris (1956) 96 CLR 10; [1956] HCA 26 Podrebersek v Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; 59 ALJR 492 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589; [1981] HCA 45 Smith v McIntyre [1958] Tas SR 36 Stapley v Gypsum Mines Ltd [1953] AC 663; [1953] 2 All ER 478 Wallace v Kam (2013) 250 CLR 375; [2013] HCA 19 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Doble Express Transport Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) (Appellant) John L Pierce Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Campbell SC with P Barham (Appellant) A Combe (Respondent)