Menz v Wagga Wagga Show Society Inc [2020] NSWCA 65

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Menz v Wagga Wagga Show Society Inc [2020] NSWCA 65 Hearing dates: 16 March 2020 Decision date: 21 April 2020 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Payne JA at [131]; White JA at [132]. Decision: 1. In proceeding 2019/180935, appeal dismissed with costs.

2. In proceeding 2020/45410, summons dismissed with costs. Catchwords: EVIDENCE - expert evidence - trial judge rejected expert report as beyond witness' expertise and not disclosing reasoning process - Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 79 - no error established

NEGLIGENCE - personal injury - plaintiff's horse fell while warming up before competing in equestrian events – plaintiff's horse "spooked" by noise made by children near warm-up area - whether plaintiff participating in dangerous recreational activity - whether plaintiff's harm resulted from materialisation of obvious risk - appropriate level of generality or particularity of "obvious risk of harm" and "dangerous recreational activity" - Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5F, 5K and 5L considered - whether plaintiff had established a reasonable person in defendant's position would have taken precaution of stationing marshals in warm-up area - significance of risk warning signed by plaintiff as a precaution - Civil Liability Act s 5B(1)(c) considered - appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Australian Consumer Law, ss 60, 275 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5F, 5H, 5I, 5K, 5L, 5M, 5N Commonwealth Constitution, s 109 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), s 139A Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 79, 80 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), 101(2)(r) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 74 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 36.16 Cases Cited: Actors and Announcers Equity Association of Australia v Fontana Films Pty Ltd (1982) 150 CLR 169; [1982] HCA 23 Alameddine v Glenworth Valley Horse Riding Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 219; 324 ALR 355 Australia Capital Financial Management Pty Ltd v Linfield Developments Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 99; 18 BPR 36683 Bitupave Ltd t/as Boral Asphalt v Pillinger [2015] NSWCA 298 C G Maloney Pty Ltd v Hutton-Potts [2006] NSWCA 136 Campbell v Hay [2014] NSWCA 129 Cherry v Steele-Park (2017) 96 NSWLR 548; [2017] NSWCA 295 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Bridge [2018] NSWCA 183 Collins v Clarence Valley Council (2015) 91 NSWLR 128; [2015] NSWCA 263 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588; [2011] HCA 21 Erickson v Bagley [2015] VSCA 220 Fairall v Hobbs [2017] NSWCA 82; 347 ALR 151 Fallas v Mourlas (2006) 65 NSWLR 418; [2006] NSWCA 32 Falvo v Australian Oztag Sports Association [2006] NSWCA 17; [2006] Aust Tort Rep 81-831 Garzo v Liverpool/Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 Gerlach v Clifton Bricks Pty Ltd (2002) 209 CLR 478; [2002] HCA 22 Goode v Angland (2017) 96 NSWLR 503; [2017] NSWCA 311 HG v R (1999) 197 CLR 414; [1999] HCA 2 Jaber v Rockdale City Council [2008] NSWCA 98 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Lormine Pty Ltd v Xuereb [2006] NSWCA 200 Mann v Paterson Constructions Pty Ltd [2019] HCA 32; 373 ALR 1 March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506; [1991] HCA 12 Menz v Wagga Wagga Show Society Inc (No 1) [2018] NSWSC 1446 Menz v Wagga Wagga Show Society Inc (No 3) [2019] NSWSC 541 Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd v Nicholls (2011) 244 CLR 427; [2011] HCA 48 Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District v Starkey [2016] NSWCA 114 New South Wales v Commonwealth (2006) 229 CLR 1; [2006] HCA 52 Ocean Marine Mutual Insurance Association (Europe) OV v Jetopay Pty Ltd (2000) 120 FCR 146; [2000] FCA 1463 Ohlstein v E & T Lloyd t/as Otford Farm Rides [2006] NSWCA 226 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith (2015) 90 NSWLR 1; [2015] NSWCA 90 Port Macquarie Hastings Council v Mooney [2014] NSWCA 156; [2014] Aust Torts Rep 82-172 RHG Mortgage Corporation Ltd v Ianni [2016] NSWCA 270 Roads and Maritime Services v Grant [2015] NSWCA 138 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Rolleston v Insurance Australia Ltd [2017] NSWCA 168 Scenic Tours Pty Ltd v Moore [2018] NSWCA 238; 361 ALR 456 Southern Colour (Vic) Pty Ltd v Parr [2017] VSCA 310 Stewart, Vickery and Stewart v Ackland [2015] ACTCA 1 Streller v Albury City Council [2013] NSWCA 348 Tasmanian Dam case (1983) 158 CLR 1; [1983] HCA 21 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Miller (2015) 91 NSWLR 752; [2015] NSWCA 320 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 223 CLR 422; [2005] HCA 62 Wallis v Downard-Pickford (Nth Qld) Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 388; [1994] HCA 17 Texts Cited: J Dietrich, "Personal Injuries and Recreational Activities" (2013) 115 Precedent 32 J Goudkamp, Tort Law Defences (Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2013) G Perry, "Obvious risks of dangerous recreational activities: How is risk defined for Civil Liability Act purposes?" (2016) 23 Torts Law Journal 56 W Twining and D Miers, How To Do Things With Rules (5th ed 2010, Cambridge University Press) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kerrie Ann Menz (Appellant) Wagga Wagga Show Society Inc (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D F Jackson QC, D Villa SC, J Hillier (Appellant) J Sexton SC, D Kelly (Respondent)