Bruce v Apex Software Pty Limited trading as Lark Ellen Aged Care [2017] NSWDC 237

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Bruce v Apex Software Pty Limited trading as Lark Ellen Aged Care [2017] NSWDC 237 Hearing dates: 7 June 2017, 9 June 2017, 19-21 June 2017 Date of orders: 30 August 2017 Decision date: 30 August 2017 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Dicker SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the defendant. The Statement of Claim is dismissed. (2) The plaintiff is to pay the defendant's costs of the proceedings as agreed or assessed. (3) Liberty to apply on two business days' notice to vary the costs order in (2) above. (4) Exhibits are to be returned after 28 days Catchwords: Torts – negligence – occupier's liability - trip by plaintiff visitor on uneven surface outside aged care facility – scope of duty of care – whether breach of duty - extent of plaintiff's injuries – extent of gratuitous care and whether need for commercial care Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak (2009) 239 CLR 420 Bartolo v Owners of Strata Plan No 10535 [2005] NSWCA 256 Bathurst City Council v Cheesman [2004] NSWCA 308 Botany Bay City Council v Latham [2013] NSWCA 363 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Burwood Council v Byrnes [2002] NSWCA 343 Ceva Logistics (Australia) Pty Ltd v Redbro Investments Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 46 Commissioner of Railways v Ruprecht (1979) 142 CLR 593 Container Terminals Australia Ltd v Huseyin [2008] NSWCA 320 Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540; [2002] HCA 54 Harrington Estates (NSW) Pty Ltd v Turner [2016] NSWCA 369 Hastings Council v Giese [2003] NSWCA 178 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Miller v Galderisi [2009] NSWCA 353 Neindorf v Junkovic (2005) 222 ALR 631; [2005] HCA 75 Origin Energy LPG Pty Ltd v Bestcare Foods Ltd [2012] NSWCA 407 Patrick Stevedores Operations (No 2) Pty Ltd v Hennessy [2015] NSWCA 253 Raad v VM & KTP Holdings Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 190 Ratewave Pty Ltd v BJ Illingby [2017] NSWCA 103 RTA v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330 Ryde City Council v Saleh [2004] NSWCA 219 Strong v Woolworths Ltd (2012) 246 CLR 182 Varga v Galea [2011] NSWCA 76 White v Benjamin [2015] NSWCA 75 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lorraine Bruce (Plaintiff) Apex Software Pty Limited trading as Lark Ellen Aged Care (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: G Hickey (Plaintiff) B Hull (Defendant)