Fairall v Hobbs [2017] NSWCA 82

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Fairall v Hobbs [2017] NSWCA 82 Hearing dates: 24 March 2017 Decision date: 18 April 2017 Before: McColl A/P at [1]; Leeming JA at [9]; Payne JA at [16]. Decision: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Set aside the orders of the primary judge of 26 May 2016 and in lieu thereof make the following orders: (a) amended statement of claim dismissed; (b) respondent to pay the appellants' costs as agreed or assessed. (3) Respondent to pay the appellants' costs of the appeal as agreed or assessed. (4) Notice of cross-appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: TORT – negligence – motor vehicle accidents – respondent thrown from horse while riding along side of road – whether primary judge erred in finding motor vehicle owned by first appellant and driven by second appellant caused the respondent's horse to shy and buck – whether there was a "motor accident" under the Motor Accidents Compensation Act – whether primary judge erred – requirements in ss 5B or 5D of the Civil Liability Act – whether blameless motor accident Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) District Court Act 1973 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak (2009) 239 CLR 420; [2009] HCA 48 Awad v ISPT Pty Ltd & Jones Lang LaSalle (NSW) Pty Ltd & Glad Cleaning Services Pty Ltd (No 1) [2015] NSWDC 329 Axiak v Ingram (2012) 82 NSWLR 36; [2012] NSWCA 311 Colonial Sugar Refining Co Ltd v Attorney General for the Commonwealth (1912) 15 CLR 182 Flowers v SAS Trustee Corporation [2015] NSWDC 275 Garzo v Liverpool / Campbelltown Christian School. [2012] NSWCA 151 Miller; Miller v Lithgow City Council (2015) 91 NSWLR 752; [2015] NSWCA 320 Nominal Defendant v Hawkins [2011] NSWCA 93 Nominal Defendant v Ismail [2014] NSWCA 432 Reid v Commercial Club (Albury) Ltd [2014] NSWCA 98 Rook v State of New South Wales (No 3) [2015] NSWDC 154 RTA v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Sargood Brothers v Commonwealth (1910) 11 CLR 258 Shoalhaven City Council v Pender [2013] NSWCA 210 Tito v Waddell (No 2) [1977] Ch 106 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Miller; Miller v Lithgow City Council (2015) 91 NSWLR 752; [2015] NSWCA 320 Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia v J W Alexander Ltd (1918) 25 CLR 434 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Carolyn Maree Fairall (First appellant) Holly Lee Fairall (Second appellant)