Aerolink Air Services Pty Ltd v Bankstown Airport Limited [2019] NSWSC 1283

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Aerolink Air Services Pty Ltd v Bankstown Airport Limited [2019] NSWSC 1283 Hearing dates: 30, 31 July; 1, 2 and 10 August 2018 Decision date: 27 September 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: White J Decision: Give judgment for the plaintiff for damages to be assessed in respect of the loss of such of the plaintiff's logbooks, filing cabinets and any other material contained in its filing cabinets that were removed on or about 30 July 2014 at the defendant's direction from the hangar at Bankstown Airport that had formerly been occupied by the plaintiff. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE — dangerous premises — where property belonging to licensee on sufferance damaged and destroyed by fire in hangar — whether fire caused by defective wiring — whether licensor liable for failure to repair defective wiring where licensee had contractually assumed liability for defects in hangar

BAILMENT — duties of bailee — duty of care — duty to take reasonable care of property left on premises — whether duty required landlord to remedy defective wiring

BAILMENT — gratuitous bailment — whether landlord liable for the disposing without bailee's consent of property which survived hangar fire Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), Pt 1A Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 136 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW), s 9 Uncollected Goods Act 1995 (NSW), Pt 3 Cases Cited: Aldred v Stelcad Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 201 Ashby v Tolhurst [1937] 2 KB 242 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479; [1987] HCA 7 Big Top Hereford Pty Ltd v Gavin Thomas as Trustee of the Bankrupt Estate of Douglas Keith Tyler [2006] NSWSC 1159 Caltex Refineries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Stavar (2009) 75 NSWLR 649; [209] NSWCA 258 Coggs v Bernard (1703) 2 Ld Raym 909; (1703) 92 ER 107 CSR Ltd v Adecco (Australia) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 121 Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 Drive-Yourself Lessey's Pty Ltd v Burnside (1958) SR (NSW) 390 Hobbs v Petersham Transport Co Pty Ltd (1971) 124 CLR 220; [1971] HCA 26 Indermaur v Dames (1866) LR 1 CP 274 Jones v Bartlett (2000) 205 CLR 166; [2000] HCA 56 Loose Fit Pty Ltd v Marshbaum [2011] NSWCA 372 Northern Sandblasting Pty Ltd v Harris (1987) 188 CLR 313; [1987] HCA 39 Parnaby v Lancaster Canal Co (1839) 11 A & E 223; 113 ER 400 Robins v Jones (1863) 15 CB (NS) 221 Rolfe v Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd [2014] VSCA 38 Tinsley v Dudley [1951] 2 KB 18 WD and HO Wills (Aust) Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1998) 43 NSWLR 338 WGH Nominees Pty Ltd v Tomblin (1985) 39 SASR 117 Withers, Evans Ltd (Trustee of) v Sterling Circuits Inc and Sunlife Assurance Company of Canada (1988) 47 DLR (4th) 614 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Aerolink Air Services Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Bankstown Airport Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: CP O'Neill (Plaintiff) R Cheney SC with A Carr (Defendant)