Langdon v Carnival PLC

Case [2024] NSWCA 168

Court of Appeal


Supreme Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Langdon v Carnival PLC [2024] NSWCA 168
Hearing dates: 27 May 2024
Date of orders: 16 July 2024
Decision date: 16 July 2024
Before: Ward P at [1]; Kirk JA at [199]; Basten AJA at [200]
Decision:

1.   Appeal be dismissed with costs.

2.   Grant leave to the cross-applicant to cross-appeal.

3.   Allow the cross-appeal and vary order 1 made by the primary judge on 1 February 2024 as follows:

(a)   Order that the plaintiff pay the defendant’s costs of the proceedings to be assessed on the ordinary basis up to and including 19 April 2022 and thereafter on an indemnity basis.

4.   Order the cross-respondent to pay the cross-appellant’s costs of the cross-appeal.

Catchwords:

NEGLIGENCE – Personal injury – Causation – Physical and psychological injuries – Multiple possible causes of injury – Appellate intervention in the provisional assessment of damages

COSTS – Indemnity costs – Offers of compromise Rule 42.15A of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) – Discretion to “order otherwise”

Legislation Cited:

Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5D(1), 13(2)

Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98

Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 20.26, 42.15A

Cases Cited:

Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Cervantes [2012] NSWCA 244; (2012) 61 MVR 443

Barakat v Bazdarova (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 140

Berkeley Challenge Pty Ltd v Howarth [2013] NSWCA 370

Boensch v Pascoe (2019) 268 CLR 593; [2019] HCA 49

Broadspectrum (Australia) Pty Ltd v Farmer [2024] NSWCA 81

Chen by her tutor Hung v Kmart Australia Ltd [2023] NSWCA 96

Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528

Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22

Francis Travel Marketing Pty Ltd v Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd (1996) 39 NSWLR 160

Hazeldene’s Chicken Farm Pty Ltd v Victorian WorkCover Authority (No 2) (2005) 13 VR 435; [2005] VSCA 298

Hillier v Sheather (1995) 36 NSWLR 414

Hobartville Stud Pty Ltd v Union Insurance Co Ltd (1991) 25 NSWLR 358

House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40

Housman v Camuglia (2021) 104 NSWLR 615; [2021] NSWCA 106

Insight Vacations Pty Ltd v Young (2011) 243 CLR 149; [2011] HCA 16

Jaycar v Lombardo [2011] NSWCA 284

John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson (2000) 203 CLR 503; [2000] HCA 36

Langdon v Carnival PLC t/as PO Cruises Australia (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 38

Langdon v Carnival PLC t/as PO Cruises Australia [2023] NSWSC 1406

Leach v The Nominal Defendant (QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd) (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 391

Lee v Lee (2019) 266 CLR 129; [2019] HCA 28

Loxton v New South Wales [2002] NSWCA 194

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 264 CLR 541; [2018] HCA 30

Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantian Properties Pte Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 344

Morgan v Johnson (1998) 44 NSWLR 578

New South Wales Insurance Ministerial Corporation v Reeve (1993) 42 NSWLR 100

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AGLC
Langdon v Carnival PLC [2024] NSWCA 168
Case
[2024] NSWCA 168
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The New South Wales Court of Appeal considered an appeal and cross-appeal concerning a claim for personal injury. The plaintiff, Langdon, alleged negligence against the defendant, Carnival PLC, for injuries sustained. The primary judge had made orders on 1 February 2024, which were the subject of both the appeal and the cross-appeal.

The central legal issues before the Court of Appeal involved the assessment of damages for both physical and psychological injuries, particularly where multiple potential causes of injury existed, and the application of Rule 42.15A of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) regarding the discretion to award indemnity costs following an offer of compromise.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the plaintiff's appeal, upholding the primary judge's findings on liability and the assessment of damages. However, the Court allowed the defendant's cross-appeal concerning costs. The Court varied the primary judge's costs order, directing that the plaintiff pay the defendant's costs on the ordinary basis up to 19 April 2022, and thereafter on an indemnity basis, reflecting the defendant's successful offer of compromise under Rule 42.15A. The Court also ordered the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs of the cross-appeal.

Orders

Orders of the court

1. Appeal be dismissed with costs.

2. Grant leave to the cross-applicant to cross-appeal.

3. Allow the cross-appeal and vary order 1 made by the primary judge on 1 February 2024 as follows:

(a) Order that the plaintiff pay the defendant’s costs of the proceedings to be assessed on the ordinary basis up to and including 19 April 2022 and thereafter on an indemnity basis.

4. Order the cross-respondent to pay the cross-appellant’s costs of the cross-appeal.

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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