Wearing-Smith v Swift

[2014] NSWDC 159

District Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation:

Wearing-Smith v Swift [2014] NSWDC 159

Hearing dates:

11, 12, 13 & 14/08/2014

Decision date:

09 October 2014

Jurisdiction:

Civil

Before:

Levy SC DCJ

Decision:

1.Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $425,000;

2.The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs on the ordinary basis unless otherwise ordered;

3.The exhibits may be returned;

4.Liberty to apply on 7 days notice if further orders are required.

Catchwords:

TORTS - occupier's liability - plaintiff fell off balcony in domestic premises when glass panel of balustrade gave way - whether breach of duty of care - whether contributory negligence

Legislation Cited:

Civil Liability Act 2002, s 5B, s 5D, s 5E

Cases Cited:

Adelaide Stevedoring Co Ltd v Forst [1940] HCA 45; (1940) 64 CLR 538
Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna [1987] HCA 7; (1987) 162 CLR 479
Baker v Gilbert & Ors [2003] NSWCA 113
Derrick v Cheung [2001] HCA 48, (2001) 181 ALR 301
Hevi Lift (PNG) Ltd v Etherington [2005] NSWCA 42
McDonald v Robert Bryce & Co Ltd [2004] NSWCA 297
MA Partitioning & Ceilings Pty Ltd v Kezic [2005] NSWCA 414
Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; (2007) 234 CLR 330
Sea Coatings (Australia) Pty Ltd v Pascoe [2008] NSWCA 54
Shaw v Thomas [2010] NSWCA 169
Short v Barrett, NSWCA 164, 5 October 1990, unreported
Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; (2012) 246 CLR 182
Thomas v Foreshore Marine Exhaust Systems Pty Limited [2005] NSWCA 451
Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2005) 223 CLR 442

Category:

Principal judgment

Parties:

Peter Wearing-Smith (Plaintiff)
Anthony John Swift (First defendant)
Kim Louise Swift (Second defendant)

Representation:

Mr B Hughes SC with Mr T Meakes (Plaintiff)
Mr JM Morris with Ms EN Arulrajah (Defendant)
Gorman Jones (Plaintiff)
Moray & Agnew (Defendant)

File Number(s):

2013/121518

Publication restriction:

None

Judgment

Table of Contents

Nature of case	[1] - [2]
Issues	[3] - [5]
Evidence overview	[6] - [7]
Credit	[8] - [21]
Plaintiff	[9]
Mrs Montgomery	[10]
Mr Stobo	[11]
Mr Livingston	[12] - [13]
First defendant	[14] - [15]
Second defendant	[16]
Mr Dobson	[17] - [18]
Mr Mesker	[19] - [20]
Mr Burn	[21]
Facts	[22] - [129]
Plaintiff's background	[23]
Pre-accident description of the premises	[24] - [41]
Accident circumstances	[42] - [126]
Injuries, treatment and subsequent reviews	[127] - [129]
Issue 1 - Probable mechanism by which glass panel gave way	[130] - [135]
Issue 2 - Whether breach of duty of care and causation	[136] - [185]
Issue 3 - Alleged contributory negligence	[186] - [196]
Disposition	[197]
Costs	[198]
Orders	[199]

Nature of the case

1. The plaintiff, Mr Peter Wearing-Smith, brings these proceedings claiming damages for personal injury against the defendants, Mr Anthony John Swift, and his wife, Mrs Kim Louise Swift, alleging negligence arising out of the defendants' joint occupation of domestic premises at 45 Miowera Road, North Turramurra,…