The GEO Group Australia Pty Limited v O’Connor [2019] NSWCA 323

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: The GEO Group Australia Pty Limited v O'Connor [2019] NSWCA 323 Hearing dates: 27 August 2019 Decision date: 24 December 2019 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; White JA at [2]; Brereton JA at [108] Decision: (1) Grant the applicant leave to appeal from the orders of the Common Law Division made on 5 March 2019. (2) Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: TORTS — negligence — liability — prison authority — where respondent victim of prison assault causing serious injury — where prison authority informed of threat — whether failure to segregate and arrange for transfer breach of duty of care — consideration of powers to order segregated custody under the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 5B, 5C Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 10, 11, 12, 15, 23, 232, 233 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 103 Cases Cited: Commercial Union Assurance Co of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 New South Wales v Bujdoso (2005) 227 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 76 Price v State of New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 341 Proprietors of Strata Plan 17226 v Drakulic (2002) 55 NSWLR 659; [2002] NSWCA 381 Waverley Council v Ferreira [2005] NSWCA 418 Category: Principal judgment Parties: The GEO Group Australia Pty Limited (Appellant) Caleb O'Connor (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P J Deakin QC with S E McCarthy (Appellant) B Dooley SC with R de Meyrick (Respondent)