Hawkesbury Sports Council v Martin [2019] NSWCA 76

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hawkesbury Sports Council v Martin [2019] NSWCA 76 Hearing dates: 18 June 2018 Date of orders: 16 April 2019 Decision date: 16 April 2019 Before: Meagher JA and Emmett AJA at [1]; Simpson AJA at [44] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside judgment and orders of the District Court made on 1 July 2017 and in lieu thereof order that the proceedings be dismissed. 3. The respondent pay the appellants' costs at first instance and on appeal, and to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) in relation to the costs at first instance if eligible. 4. Cross appeal dismissed. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – breach of duty – where risk of harm obvious – where not established that risk not insignificant – whether content of duty required precaution of removing steel cable

EVIDENCE – opinion evidence – expert opinion – where expert "civil engineer" and "building consultant" – where opinion as to human visual perception – whether expert has "specialised knowledge" – whether opinion wholly or substantially based on such specialised knowledge

EVIDENCE – photographic evidence – where witness testifies photographs accurately show accident scene, including conditions of light and shade at time of accident – whether photographs evidence of light and shade conditions as affected visibility of objects shown

DAMAGES – gratuitous domestic assistance – where provider of assistance already in receipt of carer's pension – adequacy of reasons explaining quantification – no question of principle Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B-5C, 5F-H, 5R, 15-16, 42 District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 127 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 79 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), Ch 6 Pts 1, 2 and Ch 12 Pts 1, 3, ss 24, 35, 355, 370 Social Security Act 1999 (Cth), s 198 Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Cases Cited: Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479; [1987] HCA 7 Blacktown City Council v Hocking [2008] NSWCA 144; (2008) Aust Torts Rep 81-956 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588; [2011] HCA 21 Goode v Angland (2017) 96 NSWLR 503; [2017] NSWCA 311 Gordon v Truong; Truong v Gordon [2014] NSWCA 97 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 51 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Miller v Galderisi [2009] NSWCA 353 Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Thomson v Woolworths (Q'land) Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 234; [2005] HCA 19 Velevksi v R [2002] HCA 4; (2002) 187 ALR 233 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hawkesbury Sports Council Incorporated (First Appellant); Hawkesbury City Council (Second Appellant); Apaula Anna Losa Martin (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Sexton SC / D Kelly (Appellants) H Marshall SC / A McSpedden (Respondent)