Wells v Council of the City of Orange (No 2) [2017] NSWSC 510

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Wells v Council of the City of Orange (No 2) [2017] NSWSC 510 Hearing dates: 31 January 2017;1 February 2017;6 February 2017;8 February 2017; Date of orders: 03 May 2017 Decision date: 03 May 2017 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL Decision: (1) Judgment for the defendant. (2) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – motor vehicle accident – motorcycle colliding with water-filled barrier at night – duty of care – breach of duty – standard of liability – whether using water-filled barrier manifestly unreasonable – expert evidence – whether failure to comply with Australian Standard determinative – Civil Liability Act 2002 ss 5B, 5D, 5R, 43A, 50, 54 – breach of duty and causation not established – s 43A defence established – s 54 defence established – verdict for defendant. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) – ss 5B, 5C, 43A Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) – s 78 Roads Act 1993 (NSW) – ss 7(4), 71, 87 Road Transport (Driver Licencing) Act 1998 (NSW) –s 25A Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 (NSW) – ss 12, 52 Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW) – P 6 Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commission of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) [2009] HCA 41; 239 CLR 27 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council [2001] HCA 29; 206 CLR 512 Certain Lloyds Underwriters v Cross [2012] HCA 56; 248 CLR 378 Curtis v Harden Shire Council [2014] NSWCA 314 Garzo v Liverpool/Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 Harrison v Melhem [2008] NSWCA 67; 72 NSWLR 380 Koehler v Cerebos (Aust) Ltd [2005] HCA 15; 222 CLR 44 Lithgow City Council v Jackson [2011] HCA 36; 244 CLR 352 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; 59 ALJR 529 Presidential Security Services of Australia Pty Ltd v Brilley [2008] NSWCA 204; 73 NSWLR 241 Rankin v Gosford City Council [2015] NSWCA 249 Roads and Maritime Services v Grant [2015] NSWCA 138 Russell v Edwards & Anor [2006] NSWCA 19; 65 NSWLR 373 Sangha v Baxter [2007] NSWCA 264 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; 246 CLR 182 Wells v Council of the City of Orange [2016] NSWSC 589 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; 250 CLR 375 Texts Cited: James Goudkamp in "Self-defence and Illegality under the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW)" (2010) 18 TLJ 61 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Benjamin John Wells - Plaintiff Council of the City of Orange - Defendant Representation: Counsel: D Wheelahan QC/A Johnson - Plaintiff R Sheldon SC/H Chiu - Defendant