Recent Cases

Transport for NSW v Hunt Leather Pty Ltd; Hunt Leather Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW [2024] NSWCA 227 (18 September 2024) (Bell CJ, Leeming and Mitchelmore JJA)


Catchwords:


TORTS – nuisance – private nuisance – plaintiffs claimed their properties were affected by construction of Sydney Light Rail – whether interference with enjoyment of plaintiffs’ property substantial and unreasonable – whether failure by plaintiffs to establish a failure to take reasonable care determinative – whether defendant bore onus of establishing that it took reasonable care – whether defendant failed to take reasonable care – significance to cause of action in nuisance of taking reasonable care – whether use of road for construction purposes exceptional – whether interference with plaintiffs’ enjoyment inevitable – whether delay in construction attributable to discovery of unknown utilities – whether damages should include a “recovery period” – whether s 43A of Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) applicable

DAMAGES – pure economic loss – funded litigation – funding agreement included commission to funder – whether commission recoverable as component of damages