The Nominal Defendant v Buck Cooper [2017] NSWCA 280

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: The Nominal Defendant v Buck Cooper [2017] NSWCA 280 Hearing dates: 07 September 2017 Decision date: 03 November 2017 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Payne JA at [22]; Garling J at [190] Decision: (1) appeal dismissed; (2) the appellant pay the respondent's costs of the appeal as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE – motor vehicle accident – collision between two motorcycles, one driven by Mr Lamont and one driven by respondent – whether risk of occurrence was an "inherent risk" – whether Mr Lamont owed the respondent a duty of care

NEGLIGENCE – contributory negligence - whether primary judge erred in assessment of the culpability of respondent – whether primary judge erred in respect to factual findings of respondent's level of intoxication, visibility, speed and auditory clues at the time of collision Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW) Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Cases Cited: Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v Cosmidis (No 2) (2014) 86 NSWLR 393; [2014] NSWCA 139 Commonwealth of Australia v Elliott [2004] NSWCA 360 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 33 Davis v Swift [2014] NSWCA 458; (2014) 69 MVR 375 Gala v Preston (1991) 172 CLR 243; [1991] HCA 18 Garzo v Liverpool / Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 Gordon v Truong [2014] NSWCA 97; (2014) 66 MVR 241 Joslyn v Berryman (2003) 214 CLR 552; [2003] HCA Luxton v Vines (1952) 85 CLR 352; [1952] HCA 19 Mead v Kearney [2012] NSWCA 215 Nominal Defendant v Green [2013] NSWCA 219; (2013) 64 MVR 354 Paul v Cook (2013) 85 NSWLR 167; [2013] NSWCA 311 Pennington v Norris (1956) 96 CLR 10; [1956] HCA 26 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith (2015) 90 NSWLR 1; [2015] NSWCA 90 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALJR; [1985] HCA 34 Rabay & Anor v Bristow [2005] NSWCA 199 Roads & Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Rolls Royce Industrial Power (Pacific) Limited v James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd (2001) 53 NSWLR 626; [2001] NSWCA 461 Rootes v Shelton (1967) 116 CLR 383; [1967] HCA 39 Verryt v Schoupp [2015] NSWCA 128; (2015) 70 MVR 484 Wyong Shire Council v Vairy [2004] NSWCA 247 Texts Cited: Barbara McDonald, "Legislative Intervention in the Law of Negligence: The Common Law, Statutory Interpretation and Tort Reform in Australia" (2005) 27 Sydney Law Review 443 Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Nominal Defendant (Appellant) Buck Cooper (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Stitt QC / B Wilson (Appellant) A Stone SC / S Warren (Respondent)