Fallas v Mourlas

[2006] NSWCA 32

Reported Decision: 65 NSWLR 418
(2006) Aust Torts Reports 81-835

Court of Appeal

CITATION:	Fallas v Mourlas [2006] NSWCA 32
HEARING DATE(S):	16/02/06
JUDGMENT DATE:	16 March 2006
JUDGMENT OF:	Ipp JA at 1; Tobias JA at 85; Basten JA at 110
DECISION:	Appeal dismissed with costs.
CATCHWORDS:	NEGLIGENCE - injury sustained through accidental discharge of handgun - application of s 5L of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) - whether hunting kangaroos by spotlight is a "dangerous recreational activity" within the meaning of s 5K of the Civil Liability Act - discussion of meaning of the term "significant" - whether particular activities engaged in by the plaintiff should be segmented - relationship between a "significant risk" and an "obvious risk" for the purpose of s 5L - whether the risk that materialised was an "obvious risk" of the dangerous recreational activity as defined in s 5F of the Civil Liability Act. D
LEGISLATION CITED:	Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5F, 5K, 5L
CASES CITED:	Al-Kateb v Godwin (2004) 219 CLR 562 Beck v Mercantile Mutual Insurance Co Ltd [1961] SASR 311 Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427 Etna v Arif [1999] VR 353 Falvo v Australian Oztag Sports Association [2006] NSWCA 17 Letang v Ottawa Electric Ry Co [1926] AC 725 Malec v J C Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638 Malika Holdings v Streeton (2001) 204 CLR 290 Potter v Minahan (1908) 7 CLR 277 Re Bendeich (No 2) (1994) 53 FCR 422 R v De'Zilwa (2002) 5 VR 408 R v Leusenkamp (2003) 40 MVR 108 Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479 Roggenkamp v Bennett (1950) 80 CLR 292 Rootes v Shelton (1967) 116 CLR 383 Scanlon v American Cigarette Company (Overseas) Pty Ltd (No 3) [1987] VR 289 Seltsam Pty Ltd v McGuiness (200) 49 NSWLR 262 Williamson v Ah On (1926) 39 CLR 95 Woods v Multi-Sport Holdings Pty Ltd (2002) 208 CLR 460 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 Wyong Shire Council v Vairy; Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council [2004] NSWCA 247
PARTIES:	Alexander Con Fallas (Appellant) Con Mourlas (Respondent)
FILE NUMBER(S):	CA 40755/05
COUNSEL:	C T Barry QC (Appellant) C S Leahy SC (Respondent)
SOLICITORS:	Vizzone Ruggero & Associates (Appellant) Owen Hodge Lawyers (Respondent)
LOWER COURT JURISDICTION:	District Court
LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S):	2638/04
LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER:	Quirk DCJ
LOWER COURT DATE OF DECISION:	16/02/2006

CA 40755/05
DC 2638/04

IPP JA
TOBIAS JA
BASTEN JA

Thursday 16 March 2006

CON FALLAS v CON MOURLAS

Judgment

FACTS

Mr Alexander Con Fallas, the defendant below, accidentally shot his friend, Mr Con Mourlas, the plaintiff below, in the leg while hunting kangaroos. At the time of the accident, the four men were participating in an activity referred to as “spotlighting” or shooting kangaroos at night with the aid of a spotlight.

The men got into a vehicle and drove into the bush in search of kangaroo at around 10.30pm. Mr Fallas was driving the vehicle…