Gem v State of New South Wales [2017] NSWDC 108

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gem v State of New South Wales [2017] NSWDC 108 Hearing dates: 23, 24 and 27 February & 28 April 2017 (close of submissions on 9 May 2017) Date of orders: 19 May 2017 Decision date: 19 May 2017 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Judge Levy SC Decision: 1. Verdict for the plaintiff in the amount of $354,555;

2. I will hear the parties on the amount to be added to the verdict on account of funds management charges, and consequential orders, including as to costs;

3. Liberty to apply on 7 days' notice for other orders. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – child with special needs absconding from one-on-one supervision at school climbing onto roof of a school building and falling thereby sustaining injuries – determination of liability of the school according to requirements of Pt 1A of Civil Liability Act 2002; DAMAGES – assessment of plaintiff's entitlement to damages Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002, Pt 1A, s 5, s 5B, s 5C, s 5D, s 13, s 16, s 32, s 42 Court Suppression and Non-Publication Orders Act 2010, s 6, s 7, s 8 Crown Proceedings Act 1988, s 5 Evidence Act 1995, Dictionary cl 4(2), s 60 Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983, s 8 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr [2012] NSWCA 13 Baker v Willoughby [1970] AC 467; [1969] UKHL 8 Carmarthershire Country Council v Lewis [1955] UKHL 2; (1955) AC 549 Commonwealth v Introvigne [1982] HCA 40; (1982) 150 CLR 258 Council of the City of Liverpool v Turano & Anor [2008] NSWCA 270 Cox v State of New South Wales [2007] NSWSC 471 DMN Mining Pty Ltd v Barwick [2004] NSWCA 137 Daw v Toyworld (NSW) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 25 Doubleday & Anor v Kelly [2005] NSWCA 151 Elayoubi v Zipser [2008] NSWCA 335 Faulkner v Keffalinos (1971) 45 ALJR 80 Geyer v Downs & Anor (1977) 17 ALR 408 Glen v Sullivan [2015] NSWCA 191 Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48; (1961) 106 CLR 340 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan [2002] HCA 54; (2002) 211 CLR 540 "H" v State of NSW [2009] NSWDC 193 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20; (1990) 169 CLR 638 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission [1995] HCA 5; (1995) 182 CLR 1 Mount Isa Mines Ltd v Pusey [1970] HCA 60; (1970) 125 CLR 383 National Insurance Co of New Zealand Ltd v Espagne [1961] HCA 15; (1961) 105 CLR 569 O'Brien v McKean [1968] HCA 58; (1968) 118 CLR 540 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Purkess v Crittenden [1965] HCA 34; (1965) 114 CLR 164 RHG Mortgage Ltd v Ianni [2015] NSWCA 56 Ramsay v Larsen (1964) 111 CLR 16 Redding v Lee [1983] HCA 16; (1983) 151 CLR 117 Richards v State of Victoria [1969] VR 136 Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory [1998] HCA 5; (1998) 192 CLR 431 Solomons v Pallier [2015] NSWCA 266 State of NSW v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133, (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 State of Victoria v Bryar & Anor [1970] 44 ALJR 174 Strong v Woolworths [2012] HCA 5 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 442 Watts v Rake [1960] HCA 58; (1960) 108 CLR 158 Williams v Eady (1983) 10 TLR 41 to 42 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gem (Plaintiff) State of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms E Welsh (Plaintiff) Ms G Mahony (Defendant)