Common Law Division Supreme Court New South Wales
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Common Law Division Supreme Court New South Wales Case Name: Moore v Scenic Tours Pty Limited (No.2) Medium Neutral Citation: [2017] NSWSC 733 Hearing Date(s): 26, 27, 28 April 2016, 11, 12, 13 May 2016 Date of Orders: 31 August 2017 Date of Decision: 31 August 2017 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Garling J Decision: See [946] Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – all-inclusive five-star luxury cruise along European rivers – where cruise substantially disrupted by flooding – whether breach of consumer guarantees CONSUMER LAW – meaning of “services” in particular factual context – whether breach a result of a cause independent of human control STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION –– whether Civil Liability Act (‘CLA’) picked up by s 80 Judiciary Act DAMAGES – compensation for reduction in value – assessment – whether amount recovered through insurance policy to be subtracted from total of compensation awardable STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – damages for distress and disappointment – whether Pt 2 CLA applied by s 275 Australian Consumer Law – whether damages “personal injury” under Pt 2 CLA – whether damages meet Pt 2 CLA threshold – whether CLA operates extra-territorially DAMAGES – assessment – damages for distress and disappointment CONTRACTS – construction – whether terms and conditions permitted significant variation of itinerary Legislation Cited: Australian Consumer Law Civil Liability Act 2002 Civil Procedure Act 2009 1 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Contracts Review Act 1980 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) Supreme Court Act 1970 The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 (UK) Trade Practices Act 1971 (Cth) Cases Cited: Adamson v NSW Rugby League Ltd (1991) 31 FCR 242 Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48; (2009) 239 CLR 420 Alameddine v Glenworth Valley Horse Riding Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 219 Baltic Shipping Co v Dillon [1993] HCA 4; (1993) 176 CLR 344 Benic v State of NSW [2010] NSWSC 1039 Bradburn v Great Western Railway Co (1874) LR 10 Exch.1 Comalco Aluminium Ltd v Mogal Freight Services Pty Ltd [1993] FCA 96; (1993) 113 ALR 677 CPA Australia Ltd v Storai [2015] VSC 442; (2015) 299 FLR 288 Fairall v Hobbs [2017] NSWCA 82 Flight Centre Ltd t/as Infinity Holidays v Janice Louw [2011] NSWSC 132 Garzo v Liverpool/Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 Indico Holdings Pty Ltd v TNT Australia Pty Ltd (1990) 41 NSWLR 281 Insight Vacations Pty Ltd v Young [2010] NSWCA 137 Insight Vacations Pty Ltd v Young [2011] HCA 16; (2011) 243 CLR 149 IW v City of Perth [1997] HCA 30; (1997) 191 CLR 1 Jarvis v Swan Tours Ltd [1972] EWCA Civ 8; [1973] QB 233 John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson [2000] HCA 36; (2000) 203 CLR 503 Jumbunna Coal Mine, NL v Victorian Coal Miners’ Association (1908) 6 CLR 309 Kumagai Gumi Co Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [1999] FCA 235; (1999) 90 FCR 274 Lipohar v The Queen [1999] HCA 65; (1999) 200 CLR 485 Moran v McMahon (1985) 3 NSWLR 700 Motorcycling Events Group Australia Pty Ltd v Kelly [2013] NSWCA 361; (2013) 86 NSWLR 55 National Insurance Company of New Zealand Ltd v Espagne [1961] HCA 15; (1961) 105 CLR 569 2 Obeid v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2014] FCAFC 155; (2014) 226 FCR 471 Peterson v Merck Sharpe & Dohme (Aust) Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 180 Planet Fisheries Pty Ltd v La Rosa [1968] HCA 62; (1968) 119 CLR 118 Redding v Lee [1983] HCA 16; (1983) 151 CLR 117 Regie National des Usines Renault SA v Zhang [2002] HCA 10; (2002) 210 CLR 491 Rogers v Nationwide News Ltd [2003] HCA 52; (2003) 216 CLR 327 Shoalhaven City Council v Pender [2013] NSWCA 210 Trade Practices Commission v Legion Cabs (Trading) Co-Operative Society Ltd [1978] FCA 47; (1978) 35 FLR 372 Union Steamship Co of Australia Pty Ltd v King [1988] HCA 55; (1988) 166 CLR 1 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust v Miller [2015] NSWCA 320; (2015) 91 NSWLR 752 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40 Young v Insight Vacations Pty Ltd [2009] NSWDC 122 Texts Cited: Not Applicable Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: David Moore (P) Scenic Tours Pty Limited (D) Representation: Counsel: A Abadee (P) G McNally SC (26, 27 April 2016) / D S Weinberger / A Jordan (11, 12 May 2016) (D) Solicitors: Somerville Legal Pty Ltd (P) McCabes Lawyers (D) File Number(s): 2014/223271 Publication Restriction: Not Applicable 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Judgment ......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Table of Cruises ............................................................................................................................................. 8 The Scenic Group ................................................................................................................................................ 9 Senior Members of Scenic and Associated Companies .............................................................................. 12 Plaintiff’s Claim ................................................................................................................................................ 12 The Case for the Defendant ............................................................................................................................. 17 Shape of the Hearing ....................................................................................................................................... 19 A Late Amendment .......................................................................................................................................... 19 Mr Moore’s Experience .................................................................................................................................... 22 Mr Moore’s Agreement with Scenic ................................................................................................................. 38 Scenic’s Knowledge of River Levels .................................................................................................................. 43 Amsterdam to Budapest Intended Itinerary .................................................................................................... 78 Budapest to Amsterdam Cruise ....................................................................................................................... 80 Consumer Guarantees ..................................................................................................................................... 81 Scenic’s Brochure ............................................................................................................................................. 82 Terms and Conditions ...................................................................................................................................... 89 Services ............................................................................................................................................................ 93 The Guarantees .............................................................................................................................................. 101 The Purpose Guarantee: s 61(1) of the ACL .............................................................................................. 101 The Result Guarantee: s 61(2) of the ACL ................................................................................................. 105 Due Care and Skill Guarantee: s 60 of the ACL ......................................................................................... 106 Defences to the Guarantees ........................................................................................................................... 111 Application of Purpose and Due Care and Skill Guarantees to the Cruises .................................................... 115 Cruise 1: South of France River Cruise commencing 19 May 2013 ........................................................... 115 The Cruise ............................................................................................................................................. 115 Purpose Guarantee .............................................................................................................................. 119 Due Care and Skill Guarantee ............................................................................................................... 119 Cruise 2: Budapest to Amsterdam departing 20 May 2013 ...................................................................... 122 The Cruise ............................................................................................................................................. 122 Purpose Guarantee .............................................................................................................................. 123 Due Care and Skill Guarantee ............................................................................................................... 124 Cruise 3: Amsterdam to Budapest departing 25 May 2013 ...................................................................... 124 The Cruise ............................................................................................................................................. 124 Purpose Guarantee .............................................................................................................................