Bartter's Farms Pty Ltd v Todd

Bartter's Farms Pty Ltd (the appellant) appealed to the High Court of Australia against a decision of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, which had dismissed its appeal from a judgment of the District Court. The dispute concerned the appellant's liability for damages arising from the death of a bull, which had allegedly been caused by the respondent's negligence in the supply of feed. The appellant contended that the District Court had erred in finding it liable for the death of the bull.

The High Court was required to determine whether the respondent had established, on the balance of probabilities, that the feed supplied by the appellant was the cause of the bull's death. This involved considering whether the appellant owed a duty of care to the respondent, whether that duty had been breached, and whether the breach had caused the loss claimed. The court also had to consider the admissibility and weight of expert evidence presented by both parties regarding the cause of the bull's death.

The court ultimately found that the evidence did not establish, to the required standard, that the feed supplied by the appellant was the cause of the bull's death. While acknowledging that the appellant owed a duty of care to the respondent, the court concluded that the expert testimony was insufficient to demonstrate a causal link between the feed and the bull's demise. The court noted that the possibility of other causes for the bull's death could not be excluded on the evidence presented.

Consequently, the High Court allowed the appeal, setting aside the judgment of the Supreme Court and the order of the District Court. The appellant was awarded its costs in the High Court and the Supreme Court.