Res Ipsa Loquitur

In this episode we consider the case of Mt Owen v Parkes [2023] NSWCA 77, a case where the NSW Court of Appeal upheld a first instance decision which held a host employer was vicariously liable for the tortious conduct of a host employee, the Court satisfied there had been on the evidence at trial an effective shift or transfer of vicarious liability from the labour hire employer to the host.

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In this episode we consider the case of Noureddine v Adlard [2022] VSC 719, a judicial review application of a Medical Panel determination decided by Walker JA sitting at first instance in the Victorian Supreme Court which involved a question as to whether, when a Medical Panel requested to provide its binding medical opinions to referred medical questions, undertakes its own independent research and fails to provide the product of...

In this episode we consider the recent High Court of Australia case of Kozarov v State of Victoria [2022] HCA 12, which considered the circumstances in which employers will owe a duty to take reasonable care against the risk of psychological injury to its employees in employment, in the context of this case involving Ms Kozarov, a former prosecutor/solicitor working in the sexual offences unit of the Office of Public Prosecutions w...

In this episode we consider the decision of the NSW Court of Appeal in Faucett v St George Bank [2003] NSWCA 43 - a case in which the Court overturned a first instance verdict in the Defendant bank's favour, finding liability to its employee bank teller for psychological injuries sustained in the course of her employment arising from an armed robbery at the bank, the bank's security and safety systems found to be lacking and causat...

In this episode, we consider the decision of the Victorian Court of Appeal in Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation for the Diocese of Sale v WCB [2020] VSCA 328, a case which considered the proper approach and principles to apply in exercising discretion under recently-introduced legislative provisions to set aside prior settlement agreements entered into for historical child abuse claims - there, a settlement agreement pursuant to wh...

In this episode we consider the recent case of the NSW Court of Appeal in Bondi Beach Foods v Chadwick [2023] NSWCA 265, which considered the liability of the owner/operator of a licensed venue and a security contractor for injuries sustained to a patron caused by an altercation by another intoxicated patron. The case also considered whether the Plaintiff himself was contributorily negligent for escalating the situation with the as...

In this episode we consider the case decided last week by the Victorian Court of Appeal in Connelly v TAC [2024] VSCA 20, an important case where the Court overturned the longstanding authority from 1997 of Mobilio v Balliotis which held that the standard of appellate review of "serious injury" determinations of the County Court of Victoria was the so-called House v King standard. The case also provides an important recent example ...

In this episode we consider the case of Biggs v O'Connor [2021] VSC 826, a case decided by Justice Keogh of the Victorian Supreme Court, which considered the liability of a motorcycle rider for damages for negligently inflicted psychiatric injury to a secondary victim, here the spouse of the deceased motorcyclist's passenger who died as a result of an accident caused by the negligent riding and control of the motorcycle. This case ...

In this episode we consider the case of the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Canberra v Hadba [2005] HCA 31, a leading High Court of Australia case which considered the standard of care expected of teachers and schools towards students in its care, its liability for students injured while playing in school playground areas, and whether schools are required to devise and implement systems requiring constant s...

In this episode we consider the case of VWA v Putrus [2023] VSCA 28, a recent Victorian Court of Appeal case concerning judicial review applications of medical panel opinions rendered under the Workplace Injury Rehablitation and Compensation Act 2013 (Vic), and the requirement for panels to give genuine consideration to mandatory relevant considerations and fundamental issues raised before it, failure to do so can result in a findi...

In this episode we consider the case of Neindorf v Junkovic [2005] HCA 75, an important refresher for all "public liability" lawyers where the High Court of Australia here had the opportunity to consider the liability of a residential occupier to a visitor injured while present on a residential premises attending a garage sale. The Court's comments are highly relevant for all "home owner liability" cases.

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In this episode we consider the case of GLJ v The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Lismore, a recent High Court of Australia case which considered the relevant principles to apply when determining permanent stay applications brought by Defendants, in respect of civil proceedings whereby Plaintiffs seek damages for harm occasioned by historical child sexual abuse, as well as the standard for appellate review ...

In this episode we look at the recent case of the ACT Court of Appeal in Buljat v Coles Supermarkets [2022] ACTCA 71, which considered the liability of commercial supermarket operators to customers for "slip and fall" incidents occurring on their premises, and the requirements to ensure there is a reasonable cleaning and inspection system to identify and remove slip hazards from floors, such as grapes as occurred here.

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In this episode we consider the case of CCIG Investments v Schokman [2023] HCA 21 which is a recent case decided by the High Court of Australia where the Court had the occasion to consider the scope and reach of the doctrine of vicarious liability, in respect of the conduct of an intoxicated employee who urinated on his co-worker while he was sleeping in their shared room accommodation at the resort they were living and working in ...

Under Victorian law, the rights of plaintiffs injured at work or in transport accidents to commence damages proceedings are prohibited unless they have suffered a “serious injury”. What is a “serious injury”? In this episode, we delve into the important decision of the Victorian Court of Appeal in Haden Engineering v McKinnon (2010) 31 VR 1, in particular the judgment of President Maxwell, who set out a “check-list” of factors whic...

Welcome to "Res Ispa Loquitur" with Paul Czarnota, award-winning barrister and law lecturer to serving up your shortcut to legal wisdom.

In each episode, we navigate the intricate world of torts, insurance, and personal injuries and break down recent and important cases - by delivering short, sharp, and easy-to-digest summaries.

This is for time-poor practitioners, eager law students, and anyone with a curious mind.

We unpack ca...