N.R.M.A. Insurance Ltd v Tsakalos, J.

Case [1989] FCA 716


3UDGhlENT No. . ........ .... ,.-..- 716 p -%
I N THE FEnERAL "OURT OF 4 l l S T 9 A L I A )

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AUSTRALIAN C A P I T A L TER? I T O R I ) No. ACT G60 o f 1 9 8 8
DTSTRICT REGlTTRY )
GENERAL D I ' I I S I O N
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On A p p e a l f r o m t h p S 1 1 p r 3 ~ e c o ~ r r t o f t h e . : : 1 s t . r 3 ! 7 3 1 C a p i t a l

Territory

i

RETWEEN:  V9MA I U S l l Z l U ~ F LTMITEO --
A p p ~ l l a ? ?
AND J O Y N TSAK4CO5 --

Q e s p o n r f e n t

AND JOHN TSAY4?0S
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C r o s s A p p n l l a n t
AND N R Y A I F I S ' I R A : : C C I !r.lITFO
- - -- --p

C r o s s ? e ~ ~ o i d ? i t

- MINUTE OF 04nER
. -.
CO119T:  I < e l l y , J e n k i n s o n a n d U e a v p s . ] , l .
-- 
PLACE:  C a n b e r r a
DATE:  1 5 V a r c h , 1 9 8 9

2 2 NOV 1989

FEDERAL COURT oe

AUSTRALIA

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

- PRINCIPN REG18TRY
1. The a p p e a l h e d i s m i s s e d .
7 . T h e c r o s s - a p p e a l h ? d i s n i s s ~ d .
3 . The a p p e l l a n t p a y t h e r e s p o n d e n t ' $ c o s t s o f +,bp a a p e a l .
4. T h e c r o s s - a p p e l l a ~ t p a y t h e c r o s s - r e s p o n d ~ i t ' s c o s t s o f
t h e c r o s s - a p p e a l .
5. T h e a m o u n t s o f t h e s a ~ d o r d e r s f o r c o s t s h e s e t o f f a n d
t h e b a l a n c e b e paid t o t h e p a r t y e n t i t l e d .
(NOTE:  S e t t l e m e n t a n d e n t r y o f o r d e r s i s d e a l : w i t h i n n r d e r 3 6
o f t h e F e d e r a l C o l ~ i - t R u l e s . )
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA )
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY )

No. ACT G40 of 1988

DISTRICT REGISTRY

GENERAL DIVISION

ON APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

BETWEEN: NRMA INSURANCE LIMITET:

Appellant

AND :  JOHN TSAKALOS

Res~ondent

AND:  JOHN TSAKALOS

Cross Appellant

AND :  NRMA INSURANCE LIMITED

Cross Respondent

CORAM: Kelly, Jenklnson and Neaves JJ

DATE: 16 March 1989

PLACE: Canberra

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

KELLY J:

I have had the advantage of readlng the reasons for judgment of Jenklnson J. I agree wlth those reasons and have nothing to add to them. I agree wlth the orders he proposes. i
I certify that thls --'--- I
page? &a true copy of the

Reasons f o r J u d g a e n t h e r e l n o f h l s H c n o ~ r

Mr. Justlce /.'2//- J
Associate l
3eted:  / , 5' 7 !
I N THE FEDERAL r O l J R i OF A U S T R A L I A )
A U S T R A L I A N C A P I T A L TERRITORY j N o . 4CT GaO o f 1 9 3 8
h l C T Q T T T R F G T C ~ R Y - ~ \
, . ., . . . . . . . . - . , . . .
GENERAL O L V I S I O N
O n A p p e a l f r o m i ' l e S ~ ~ p r e . n e C o u r t o f t h e A i r s t r a ; i a n C a 2 i t a '

T e r r i t o r y

SETWEEN. NRY4 I V S I I R A V C E I L I Y I T E Q
A p p ~ l l a i t
A N D JOHN TFAKALOS

R e s p o n r l e r l t

A N D JOHN TSAKALOS
C r o s s A p p ~ l l a n t
AND:  NRY4 INSI IRANCF L I M I T E D
C r o s s P e s p o n d e n t
COURT:  K e l l y , , l e n k i n s o n a n d Y e a v e s JJ .
PLACE.  C a n h e r r a
DATE :  1 6 M a r c h , 1 9 9 s

REAFONS FOR J ' IOGMENT

J E N K I N S O N J .
A p p e a l s 5 y h o t + p a r t i e s a g a i n s t a j ~ ~ d g r n e n t f o r d a m a g e s
i n r e s p e c t o f p e r s o n a l i n j u r y .
T h e r e s p o n d e n t , w h o i s c r o s s - a p p e l l a q t , s ~ ~ s t a i n e d
p e r s o r l a l i n j u r y o n 2 4 Y o v e m b e r 1 9 8 4 w h e n a m o t o r c a r i n w h i c h h e
w a s a p a s s e n g e r r a n o f f C o t t e r R o a d i n t h e A u s t r a l i a n C a p i t a l
T e r r i t o r y a n d s t r g c k a t r e e . The d r i v n r o f t h e c a r was t i l l e d ,and
a c t i o n was b r 0 1 l g h t h y t h e p l a i n t i f f i n ? r e 5 u p r e m e C o u r t o f t h e
A u s t r a l i a n C a p i t a : T e r r i t o r y a g a i n s t . t lhe a ~ ~ t h o r i z e d i n s ~ ~ r e r w h i ~ h
1 s s 1 1 e d t h e t h i r d - p a r t y i n s ~ r r a n c e p o l i c y i n r e s p e c t o f t i l e c a r ,
p u r s l i a n t t o s.61(3! o f t h e M o t o r T r a f f i c D r 4 i n a n c e 1 9 3 6 o f t h a r ,
Tr r .1 t o r y .
T h e p a r t i e s h a d a g r e e d h e f o r e t r i a l o f t h e a c t i o n t h a t
t h e n e g l i g e n c e o f t h e d r i v e r h a d h e e n a c a : ~ s e o f t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s
i n j u r i e s a n d t h a t t h e a n o l r n t o f t h e r l a n a g e s sho111d b e a s s e s s e d a t
9 1 1 4 , 5 7 7 . 5 5 . What r e q a i n e d f o r d e t e r m i n a t i o n a t t r i a l w e r e l s s l r e s
r a i s e d h y t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s p l e a o f v o l l ~ i t a r y a s s u m p t i o n b y t b e
p l a i n t i f f o f t h e r i s k o f i n j u r y a n d t h e p l e a o f contributory
n e g l i g e n c e . The l e a r n e d C h i e f J u s t i c e h y whom t ' l o s e i s s u e s w e r e
t r i e d f o t t n d t h a t t h e r e h a d h e e n n o v o l u n t a r y assump ' . i nn o f t h e
i s , h u t t h a t t h e r e h a d h e e n c o n t r i b u t o r y n e g l i g e n c e o n t h e p a r t
o f t h e p l a i n t i f f . 1 1 s H o n o u r c o n c l t ~ d e d t h a t o n e q u a r t e r was t h e
f r a c t i o n b y w h i c h i t was j u s t a n d e q u i t a b l e i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s
t h a t t h e a m o u n t o f t h e damages s I i o111d b e r p r l ~ ~ c e r l . A c c o r d i n g l y
t h e r e was j u d g m e n t f o r t h e p l a i n t i f f i n t h e s l im o f $R5,933.39. S y
i t s a p p e a l t h e a p p e l l a n t s o u g h t t h e s e t t i n g a s i d e o f t h e j u d g m e n t
a n d e n t r y o f j u d g m e n t f o r t h e d e f e n d a n t o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t t b e
p l e a o f v o l u n t a r y a s s u m p t i o n o f r i s k s h o u l d h a v e h e e n u p h e l d . I n
t h e a l t e r n a t i v e t h e a p p e l l a n t s o u g h t t h e s ~ r h s t i t u t i o i o f o i e h a l f
f o r o n e q l r a r t e r as t h e f r a c t i o n h y w h i c h t h e a m o u n t q f t h e damages
s h o u l d b e r e d u c e d . Ry h i s c r o s s - a p p ~ a l t h e c r o s s - a p p e l l a n t
p l a i n t i f f s o u g h t t h e s e t t i n g a s i d e o f t h e f i n d i n g o f contributory
n e g l i g e n c e a n d e n t r y o f j u d g m e n t f o r $ 1 1 4 , 5 7 7 . 5 5 .
T h e p l a i n t i f f , Y r . T s a k a l o s , m e t t h e d r i v e r , Y r . 611g?1,
l a t e i n t h e e v e n i n g o f ? ? N o v e m h e r 1 9 8 4 i n a c a r p a r k n e a r a p l a c ~
c a l l e d M a t i l d a ' s T a v e r n . F a c h h a d come t o t h e t a v e r n w i t b s e v e r a l
f r i ~ n d s . Y r . G u g o l w a s , a i t ? e l e a r n e d C h i e f J u s t i c e f o u n d a ~ d a s
b o t h p a r t i e s a c c e p t e d , w e l l a c f e c t e d b y l i q u o r . N e i t b e r p a r t y
c h a l l ~ n g e d h i s H o n o u r ' s f i q d ' n g c o n c e r n i n g Y r . T s a k a l o s , t h a t " t h s
e v i d e n c e d o e s n o t l e a d me t~ a c o ~ c l ~ ~ s i o n t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f was
m o r e t h a n s l i g h t l y i n t o x i c a t e d a t t h e m o s t . " T h e m e e t i n g i n f h e
c a r p a r k was h y c b a n c e . On. m e q h e r o f flr. B ~ ~ g e l ' s g r o ~ ~ p c l a i m e d a
s l i g h t a c q u a i n t a n c t . w i t h . ~ n e o f Y r . T s a k a l o s ' s f r i e n d s , 511:
otherwise t h e members o f e a c h g r o u p w e r e s t r a n g e r s t o t h e m e n h e r s
o f t h e o t h e r g . Y r . G ~ ~ g e l ' s f r i ~ n d s , Y e s s l o l l r s B o w e r s a n d
S w i q d e l l s , h a d b e e n d r i v e n + y + i m t o t h e c a r p a r k a f t e r t h e t h r e e
o f t h e m h a d s p e n t t h e ~ v e n l ~ g t o g e t h e r d r i n k i n q w h i s k e y a n d r u n
a n d c e l e b r a t i n g t h e r e g i s t r a t i n n t h a t d a y o f M r . G ~ ~ g e l ' s w h i t e Y G
convertible. M r . T s a 4 a 1 3 s 1 s g r o u p , c o m p o s e d o f t w o y o u n g men a n d
t w o y o l r n g l a d i e s , + a d b e e n a t a h o t e l f o r s e v e r a l h o u r s , t h e n t o
a n o v a l , a n d t h e n c e t o M a t i l d a ' s T a v e r n . T h e y t r a v e l l e d i n a c a r
d r i v e n b y o n e o f t h e y o u n g women. A l l h a d c o n s u m e d b e e r d u r i n g
t h e e v e n i n g .
Y e s s i e u r s sowers, S w i n d e l l s , T s a k a l o s a n d h i s m a l e
c o m p a n i o n n a v i d T r e m b l e a l l g a v e e v i d e n c e o f a c o n v e r s a t i o n i n t h e
c a r p a r k w h i c h c o n c l l ~ d p d w i t h a suggestion t h a t M r . T s a k a l o s a n d
Y r . T r e m b l e s h o u l d b e t a k ~ n " f o r a s p i n " i n Y r . G u g e l ' S
c o n v e r t i b l e . M r . T r e v h l e t h e r e u p o n s a t i n a s p a c e b e h i n d t h e c a r
s e a t s , M r . T s a k a l o s s a t i n t h e p a s s e n g e r s e a t a n d Y r . G u g e l d r o v e
h i s c a r o u t o f t h e c a r p a r k t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e i t c o l l i d e d w i t h
t h e t r e e .
The l e a r n e d C h i e f J ~ ~ s t i c e ' s c o n c l ~ l s i o n s c o n c ~ r n i n q t b e
p l e a o f v o l ~ ~ n t a r y a s s ~ ~ m p t i o n o f r i s k w n r e s t a t e d t h l r s
" T h e l a w r e l a t i n g t o t h e d e f e n c e o f v o l u n t a r y
a s s u m p t i o n r i s k a n d c o n t r i b ~ r t o r y n e g l l q e n i ?
p a r t i c u l a r l y a s i t r e l a t e s t o a c l a i ~ 5 y a
p a s s e n g e r a g a i n s t a d r u n k e n d r i v p r , h a s
r e c e n t l y a n d c o n v e n i e n t l y b e e n r e s t a t e d n y
G a l l o p J . a n d t h e c a s e s c o l l e c t e d i n , G e ~ f f r e ~
I a n T r y d e v . Gavan R o b e r t H o l ~ n e s (unr . ; ,o r ted,
16 J u n e 1988, S u p r e m e C o u r t o f t h e A C T ) . 4s
h i s H o n o ~ l r o b s e r v e d , t h e c a s e z establish ? l a c
f o r t h e d e f e n c e o f v o l ~ ~ n t a r y a s z ~ ~ i p t i o n ? f
r i s k t o s u c c e e d i n a d r i n k d r i v i n g c a s e , t h e
d e f e n d a n t m u s t p r o v e t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f c n u l o
s e e t h a t t h e d r i v e r w a s o r c o u l d w e 1 1 h e
i n t o x i c a t e d t o s u c h a d e g r e e a s t o r e n d e r hi11
a n u n s a f e d r i v e r , t h a t h e a p p r e c i a t e d f u l l y
t h a t i t was d a n g e r o u s t o t r a v e l i n t h e v e b l c l n
a s a p a s s e n g e r , a n d t h a t h e n e v ? r i h e l e s s
d e c i d e d v o l u n t a r i l y , t h a t i s t o s a y , w i t b o t r t
c o m p u l s i o n o r n e c e s s i t y t o t a k e t h e r i s k
i n v o l v e d i n t r a v e l l i n g a s a p a s s e n g e r .
I n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e i t i s , o f c o u r s e , f i r m l y
e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e d e c e a s e d was we11
a f f e c t e d b y l i q u o r a n d , i q ~ n y v i e w , t h i s w o u l d
h a v e b e e n a p p a r e n t t o a n y b o d y who c o n v e r s e d
w i t h h i m o r who o b s e r v e d h i m w a l k i n g o r
g e t t i n g a b o u t . H o w e v e r , t h p e v i d e n c e i n t h e
c a s e i s s o v a g u e a n d imprecise t h a t i t i s n o t
e s t a b l i s h e d t o my s a t ~ s f a c t i o n t h a t t h e r e was
i n f a c t a c o n v e r s a t i o n h e t w e e n t h e p1 a i n t i f f
a n d t h e d e c e a s e d , n o r i s i t e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t
t h e d e c e a s e d was o u t o f t h e v e h i c l e a t a l l ,
l e t a l o n e i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t h i s c o n d i t i o n
m u s t h a v e made i t s e l f k n o w n t o t h e p l a i n t i f f .
I f o n e t h i n g i s c l e a r , i t i s t h a t t h e i n t e r e s t
a n d a t t e n t i o n o f b o t h t h e p l a i n t i f f a n d O a v i d
T r e m b l e was f o c u s e d n o t ~ r p o n t h e d r i v e r o f t h e
v e h i c l e o r i t s o c c u p a n t s h u t u p o n t h e v e h i c l e
i t s e l f . I r e j e c t t h e d e f e n c e o f v o l u n t a r y
a s s u m p t i o n o f r i s k . "
N e i t h e r p a r t y c h a l l e n g e d t h e s t a t e m e n t o f t h e c r i t e r i a
u p o n w h i c h t h e d e f e n c e r e s t s . I t was t h e s e c o n d o f t h e q l ~ o t e d
p a r a g r a p h s w h i c h t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s s u b m i s s i o n s c h a l l e n g e d . T h e
a t t a c k was f r a m e d i n t w o w a y s . F i r s t , i t was s ~ l b m i t t e d t h a t a
n u m b e r o f t h e w i t i e s s e s h a d g i v e n e v i d e n c e t h a t Y r . G u g ~ l h a d b e e n
o u t o f h i s c a r a n d i n t h e c o m p a n y o f h i s t r n f r i e n d s i n t h ~ ! c a r
p a r k w h e n c o n v e r s a t i o n was occurring h e t w e e n t h e m a l e n e m b e r s o f
t h e t w o g r o u p s . T h e l e 3 r i e d C h i e f J u s t i c e h a d e r r e d , i t was s a i d ,
i n f a i l i n g t o m a k e a f i n d i n g t o t h e e f f ~ c t o f t l l a t e v i d e n c e .
r e c o n d , i t was s a i d t h a t h i s H o n o u r h a d i n d i c a t e d elsewhere i n h - s
r e a s o n s f o r j ~ ~ d g m e n t h i s a c c a p t a n c e o f o n e o f t h e w i t n e s s e s a s
r e l l a S l o a n d was a c c o r d i n g l y i n e r r o r i n f a i l i n g t o make a f i n d i n g
i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h a t w i t n e s s t h a t Y r . G u g e l h a d
b e e n o u t s i d e h i s c a r w h e n 9 1 s m o v e m e n t s m i g h t h a v e b e e n o h s e r v e d
b y M r . T s a k a l o s .
I t i s c o n v e n i e n t t o d e a l f i r s t h t h e s e c o n d o f w h a t
w e r e o v e r l a p p i n g s u h m i s s i o ~ s . I n t h e c o u r s e o f d i s c u s s i n g
~ v i d e n c e g i v e n h y M r . B o w e r s t l l e l e a r n e d C h i e f J u s t i c e h a d
o b s e r v e d : 
" F g r a p e r s o n who h a d d r u n k s o much o v e r t h e
c o u r s e o f t h e e v ? n i n g a n d n i g h t , Y r . B o w e r s
h a d a r e m a r k a b l y c l e a r mPmory a s t o t h e
e v e n t s ."
L a t e r h i s H o n o u r o b s e r v e d
" O n c e a g a i n , M r . R o w e r s d i s p l a y e d a r e m a r k a b l y
c l e a r memory i n t h e l i g h t o f w h a t h e c l a i m s t o
h a v e d r u n k . "
It was s u h m i t t e d t h a t t h e s e o b s e r v a t i o n s i n d i c a t e d h i s
H o n o u r ' s a c c e p t a n c e , a 1 b e l t s ~ l r p r i s ~ d a c c e p t a n c e , o f Y r . B o w e r s '
e v i d e n c e . I d o n o t r e a d t h e o b s e r v a t i o n s i n t h a t s ? n s e , h u t
r a t t i e r a s i r o n i c a l c o m n e n t s .
I n s u p p o r t o f t h e f i r s t s u h r ; l i s s i o n c o u n s e l f o r t h e
a p p e l l a n t t o o k t h e C o u r t t h r o u g h t h e t r a n s c r i p t o f t h e e v i d e n c e
c o n c e r n i n g t h e e v e n t s i n t h e c a r p a r k . A c a r e f u l r e a d i n g o f t h a t
t r a n s c r i p t d o e s n o t s l i g g e s t t o my mind a n y d e f i n i t e f i n d i n g
c o n t r a d i c t o r y o f t h e f i n d i n g s o f t h e t r i a l j l l d g e w h i c h a r e s t a t e d
1 n t h e p a s s a g e q u o t e d . S u c h a r e a d i n g d o e s l n d i r c e a s t r o n g
i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e t r i a l j u d g e , who saw a n d h e a r d t h e w i : n e s s e s
g i v i n g e v i d e n c e o f e v e n t s w h i c h h a d o c c u r r e d n e a r l y f o u r y e a r s
3 e f o r e t h e y t e s t i f i e d , was i n a m u c h b e t t e r p o s i t i o n t o e v a l u a t e
t h e i r h o n e s t y a n d r e l i a b i l i t y t h a n I a n . ! d o n o t c o n s i d e r t h a t
t h e e v i d e n c e a s a w h o l e j u s t i f i e s a n a f f i r m a t i v e f i n d i n g t h a t
" t h e r e w a s i n f a c t a c o n v e r s a t i o n h e t w e e n t h e p l a l n t l f f a n d t h e
d e c e a s e d " b e f o r e M r . T s a k a l o s e n t e r e d t h e M 6 c a r , o r a f i n d i n g
t h a t " t h e d e c e a s e d was o u t o f t h e v e h i c l e " w h i l e Y r . T s a k a l o s was
i n t h e c a r p a r k . T h a t h e i n g s o , t h e a t t a c k o n t h e f i n d i n g t h a t
t h e r e h a d n o t b e e n a n a s s u m p t i o n h y Y r . T s a k a l o s o f t h e r i s k
c a n n o t h e u p h e l d .
I t was s u h m i t t e d o n h e h a l f o f t h e a p p e l l a n t t h a t t h e
p r o p e r a p p o r t i o n m e n t h e t w e e n Y r . T s a k a l o s a n d Y r . G u g e l o f
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e damage w h i c 4 M r . T s a k a l o s s ~ l s t a i n e d was o f
a n e q u a l s h a r e t o e a c h . I t w a s s u h m i t t p d t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e
d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t g r o s s signs o f intoxication w e r e m a n i f e s t e d i n
t h e c a r p a r k b y t h o s e w h o w e r e t o Y r . T s a k a l o s ' s k n o w l e d g e
c o m p a n i o n s o f t h e d r i v e r o f t h e c a r i n w h i c h h e was p r o p o s i n g t o
" t a k e a s p i n " , a n d t h a t h i s f a i l u r e t o a c t o n t h o s e s i g n s b y
m a k i n g e n q u i r y a b o u t t h e d r i v e r ' s c o n d i t i o n was a d e p a r t u r e i n
s u b s t a n t i a l d e g r e e f r o m t h e s t a n d a r d o f c a r e o f t h e r e a s o n a 5 l e
m a n . The s u b m i s s i o n n a y b e a c c e p t g d w i t h o u t n e c e s s a r i l y r e a c h i n g
a v i e w a h o ~ l t a p p o r t i o n m p n t a t v a r i a n c e w i t h t h a t w h i c h t h e t r i a l
j u d g e t o o k . And I d o n o t f i n d m y s e l f i n d i s a g r e e m e n t w i t h h ; s
v i e w .
I t f o l l o w s t h a t b o t h t h e a p p e a l a n d t h e c r o s s - a p p e a :
s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d . I w o u l d o r d e r t h a t t h e r e s p o n d e n t ' s c o s t s o f
t h e a p p e a l b e p a i d b y t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d t h a t t h e
c r o s s - r e s p o n d e n t ' s c o s t s o f t h e c r o s s - a p p e a l b e p a i d b y t h e
c r o s s - a p p e l l a n t a n d t h a t t h e a m o u n t s o f t h e t w o o r d e r s f o r c o s c s
b e s e t - o f f a n d t h e b a l a n c e p a i d t o t h e p a r t y e n t i t l e d .
I c e r t i f y t h a t t h i s a n d t h e 6
p r e c e d i n g p a g e s a r e a t r u e c o p y o f
t h e R e a s o n s f o r J u d g m e n t o f Y r .
J ~ ~ s t i c e J e n k i n s o n .
D a t e d : 
lfi March,  1989
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA )
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY )
) No. ACT G 40 of 1988
DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION )

ON APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

BETWEEN: NRMA INSURANCE LIMITED

Appellant

AND:  JOHN TSAKALOS

Respondent

AND B : - JOHN TSAKALOS

Cross Appellant

AND: NRMA INSURANCE LIMITED

Cross Respondent

CORAM: Kelly, Jenkinson and Neaves JJ

- DATE: 16 March 1989

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

NEAVES J.

I agree that the appeal and cross-appeal should be

dismissed. I do not wish to add anything to the reasons given

by Jenkinson J. for reaching that conclusion.

I certify that this page

is a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Mr Justlce Neaves.

Dated: 16 March 1989

Counsel for the appellant : Mr L.M. Morris, Q.C.
and cross-respondent and Mr J.C. Hartigan
Solicitors for the appellant : Abbott Tout Russell Kennedy

and cross-respondent:

Counsel for the respondent : Mr S.L. Walmsley

and cross-appellant

Solicitors for the respondent : Crossin Power Haslem

and cross-appellant

Date of hearing : 13 March 1989
Details
AGLC
N.R.M.A. Insurance Ltd v Tsakalos, J. [1989] FCA 716
Case
[1989] FCA 716
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The appeal and cross-appeal were against a judgment for damages in respect of personal injury. The respondent, John Tsakalos, had been a passenger in a car that collided with a tree after the driver, Mr. Gugel, lost control while driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver had been visibly intoxicated, and the passenger group was aware of this. The case was tried on the basis that the driver's negligence had caused the accident and the amount of damages was assessed at $114,577.55. The learned Chief Justice found that there had been contributory negligence on the part of the passenger and reduced the amount of damages by one-quarter. The appellant sought to set aside the judgment and enter judgment for the defendant on the ground that the plea of voluntary assumption of risk should have been upheld. In the alternative, the appellant sought the substitution of one half for one quarter as the fraction by which the amount of the damages should be reduced. The cross-appellant sought the setting aside of the finding of contributory negligence and entry of judgment for $114,577.55. The court dismissed both the appeal and cross-appeal, holding that the plea of voluntary assumption of risk was not made out and that the apportionment of responsibility for the damage was not erroneous. The court ordered that the costs of the appeal be paid by the appellant and the costs of the cross-appeal be paid by the cross-appellant, with the amounts set off against the balance payable to the entitled party.

Orders

Orders of the court

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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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