Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Bridge [2018] NSWCA 183

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Bridge [2018] NSWCA 183 Hearing dates: 4 July 2018 Decision date: 17 August 2018 Before: Leeming and Payne JJA at [1]; Emmett AJA at [38] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed in part.

2. Set aside the judgment entered on 19 December 2017 in the amount of $769,381, and in lieu thereof enter judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $577,035 (being 75% of the amount earlier ordered).

3. Otherwise dismiss the appeal.

4. The appellant to pay two thirds of the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE – occupier's liability – customer slipped and fell on wet surface of supermarket carpark – whether risk of harm was foreseeable – where store manager had described wet carpark as incident waiting to happen – whether risk of harm could be identified by reference to injury sustained

NEGLIGENCE – contributory negligence – plaintiff slipped and fell when attending to his mobile phone – primary judge found no contributory negligence – challenge to findings that responding to mobile phone was momentary inattention with no causal connection to slip – appeal allowed in part and finding of 25% contributory negligence made Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 5C, 5D, 5R Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW), s 9 Suitors Fund Act 1951 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 51.53 Cases Cited: Agresta v Agresta [2010] NSWCA 330 Avopiling Pty Ltd v Bosevski; Avopiling Pty Ltd v The Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer [2018] NSWCA 146 Erickson v Bagley [2015] VSCA 220 Garzo v Liverpool / Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 Goode v Angland [2017] NSWCA 311 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Joslyn v Berryman (2003) 214 CLR 552; [2003] HCA 34 Kuhl v Zürich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; [2011] HCA 11 March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506; [1991] HCA 12 McLean v Tedman (1984) 155 CLR 306; [1984] HCA 60 Meakes v Nominal Defendant [2011] NSWDC 9 Nominal Defendant v Meakes [2012] NSWCA 66; 60 MVR 380 Nominal Defendant v Rooskov [2012] NSWCA 43; 60 MVR 350 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith (2015) 90 NSWLR 1; [2015] NSWCA 90 Podrebersek v Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 34; (1985) 59 ALJR 492 Port Macquarie Hastings Council v Mooney [2014] NSWCA 156; [2014] Aust Torts Rep 82-172 Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Southern Colour (Vic) Pty Ltd v Parr [2017] VSCA 310 Sungravure Pty Ltd v Meani (1964) 110 CLR 24; [1964] HCA 16 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Miller (2015) 91 NSWLR 752; [2015] NSWCA 320 Verryt v Schoupp [2015] NSWCA 128; 70 MVR 484 Vincent v Woolworths Ltd [2015] NSWSC 435; [2015] Aust Torts Rep 82-215 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (Appellant) Larry Kenneth Bridge (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: G Watson SC with D Weinberger (Appellant) I D Roberts SC (Respondent)