Springfield v Duncombe [2017] NSWCA 137

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Springfield v Duncombe [2017] NSWCA 137 Hearing dates: 6 June 2017 Decision date: 16 June 2017 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Emmett AJA at [21]; Adamson J at [33] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed.

2. Order the appellant to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – appeal – negligence – duty of care – liability – whether causation could be concluded from higher risk of harm that appellant fell from stairs rather than landing – no evidence from which it could be inferred that appellant fell from stairs – HELD – no error in trial judge's factual findings or conclusions Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5D, 5E, 5M, 32 District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 127 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Cases Cited: Bendix Mintex Pty Ltd v Barnes (1997) 42 NSWLR 307 Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (1951) 217 ALR 1 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Hoffmann v Boland [2013] Aust Torts Reports 82-134; [2013] NSWCA 158 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; [2011] HCA 11 Melbourne City Investments Pty Ltd v UGL Ltd [2017] VSCA 128 Roads and Traffic Authority v Royal (2008) 82 ALJR 870; [2008] HCA 19 Robinson Helicopter Company Inc v McDermott (2016) 90 ALJR 679; [2016] HCA 22 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531 Texts Cited: Buckland, "The Duty to Take Care", (1935) 51 LQR 637 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gemma Springfield (by her tutor David Springfield) (Appellant) Paula Frances Duncombe (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Sheldon/E Welsh (Appellant) P Morris SC/N Ghabar (Respondent)