Manning v McPHILLIP

Manning was the plaintiff in proceedings before the Supreme Court of New South Wales, seeking damages for personal injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. The defendants were McPhillip and an unnamed second defendant. The plaintiff alleged that the accident was caused by the negligence of the driver of the second vehicle. The primary judge found that the second defendant was negligent and that this negligence caused the plaintiff's injuries, but also found that the plaintiff was contributorily negligent to the extent of 25%. The plaintiff appealed this finding of contributory negligence to the Court of Appeal of New South Wales.

The central legal issue before the Court of Appeal was whether the primary judge erred in finding that the plaintiff was contributorily negligent. Specifically, the court had to determine if the plaintiff's actions, or omissions, contributed to the accident and, if so, whether the apportionment of 25% contributory negligence was appropriate.

The Court of Appeal considered the evidence presented at trial regarding the circumstances of the accident. It analysed the plaintiff's conduct in the moments leading up to the collision, including their speed, attention to the road, and any evasive actions taken. The court applied the principles of contributory negligence, which require a plaintiff to have acted reasonably for their own safety. If a plaintiff fails to take reasonable care for their own safety and this failure contributes to their injuries, they may be found to be contributorily negligent. The court found that the primary judge's assessment of contributory negligence was open on the evidence and that there was no error in the apportionment.

The appeal was dismissed, and the orders of the primary judge were affirmed.