Fontin v Katapodis

The case of *Fontin v Katapodis* involved a dispute between a shop owner, Katapodis, and a customer, Fontin. Fontin had been a customer at Katapodis's shop and had allegedly been injured by a piece of glass that fell from a display cabinet. Fontin subsequently sued Katapodis for damages, alleging negligence. The matter was heard in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

The central legal issue before the court was whether Katapodis owed a duty of care to Fontin as a customer, and if so, whether that duty had been breached. Specifically, the court had to determine if Katapodis had taken reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm to customers from the display cabinet. The court also considered the nature and extent of the damages suffered by Fontin.

The court found that Katapodis, as the owner of the premises, owed a duty of care to invitees, such as Fontin, to ensure the premises were reasonably safe. The court held that the falling glass constituted a breach of this duty, as it was foreseeable that a customer could be injured by such an occurrence. The court applied the principles of negligence, requiring the plaintiff to prove duty, breach, causation, and damages. The court awarded damages to Fontin for the injuries sustained.