The Greater Union Organisation Pty Ltd v Calin

The Greater Union Organisation Pty Ltd (the appellant) appealed to the New South Wales Court of Appeal against a decision of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The dispute concerned the appellant's liability for injuries sustained by the respondent, Mr Calin, who slipped and fell on a wet floor in a cinema foyer. The respondent had been a patron of the cinema.

The primary legal issues before the Court of Appeal were whether the appellant had breached its duty of care to the respondent, and if so, whether that breach caused the respondent's injuries. Specifically, the court considered whether the appellant had taken reasonable steps to ensure the safety of its patrons by adequately inspecting and cleaning the foyer area, and whether the presence of water on the floor constituted a dangerous condition for which the appellant was responsible.

The Court of Appeal found that the appellant had failed to establish that it had taken reasonable precautions to prevent patrons from slipping. Evidence indicated that the floor was wet and slippery, and there was no clear explanation for the presence of the water. The court applied the principles of negligence, holding that the appellant owed a duty of care to its patrons to maintain a safe environment. The court concluded that the appellant had breached this duty by failing to implement adequate procedures for inspecting and cleaning the foyer, and that this breach caused the respondent's fall and subsequent injuries.

The appeal was dismissed, and the appellant was ordered to pay the respondent's costs.