Barrett v Lets Go Adventures Pty Ltd [2016] NSWDC 345

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Barrett v Lets Go Adventures Pty Ltd [2016] NSWDC 345 Hearing dates: 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21 and 23 June 2016 Date of orders: 25 November 2016 Decision date: 25 November 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 damages sum. (3) Defendant pay plaintiff's costs. (4) Liberty to apply in relation to interest and costs. Catchwords: PERSONAL INJURY – action for damages for personal injury under the Australian Consumer Law as contained in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) ("ACL") as informed by the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) – plaintiff claims damages for injuries suffered while rescuing another diver while on a diving excursion on the defendant's boat – assessment of expert evidence – credit of plaintiff and of defendant's witnesses - whether plaintiff a consumer – whether defendant breached ss 60 or 61 of the ACL – interaction of ACL and Civil Liability Act in relation to defence and quantum issues – contributory negligence – failure to mitigate - "good Samaritan" – causation – assessment of damages Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2, Australian Consumer Law, ss 3, 60, 61 and 64 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5C, 5D, 5G, 5H, 5I, 5K, 5L, 5M, 5N, 5R, 5S and Part 8, ss 56, 57 and 58 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151Z Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 31.23 Cases Cited: Alameddine v Glenworth Valley Horse Riding Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 219 AMP General Insurance Ltd v Kull (2005) 44 MVR 339 Commonwealth Development Bank of Australia Pty Ltd v Cassegrain [2002] NSWSC 980 Cook v R and M Reurich Holdings Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 268 Dessent v Commonwealth of Australia (1977) 13 ALR 437 Doppstadt Australia Pty Ltd v Lovick & Son Developments Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 158 ECS Group (Australia) Pty Ltd v Hobby [2014] NSWCA 193 Fallas v Mourlas (2006) 65 NSWLR 418 GPI Leisure Corporation Ltd v Herdsman Investments Pty Ltd (No 3) (1990) 20 NSWLR 15 Huysse v Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority (1975) 24 FLR 418 Insight Vacations Pty Ltd v Young (2011) 243 CLR 149 Kappadoukas v Fransepp Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 366 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 50 NSWLR 705 Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 92 ALR 545 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Morvatjou v Modadkhani [2013] NSWCA 157 Motorcycling Events Group Australia Pty Ltd v Kelly (2012) 303 ALR 583 New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 Nominal Defendant v Kostic [2007] NSWCA 14 Shoalhaven City Council v Humphries [2013] NSWCA 390 Texts Cited: Dr Michael Eburn, "Liability of volunteers and good Samaritans: making it safe to volunteer or restricting claims for damage?", (2010) 7(2) CL 14 Review of the Law of Negligence: Final Report (2002) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Dean Barrett Defendant: Lets Go Adventures Pty Ltd Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: Mr C Hart Defendant: Mr W Reynolds