Breavington v Godleman; 18 Aug 1988

References: [1988] HCA 40, (1988) 169 CLR 41, (1988) 80 ALR 362, (1988) 62 ALJR 447, (1988) 7 MVR 289
Links: Austlii
Coram: Mason CJ, Wilson, Brennan, Deane, Dawson, Toohey, Gaudron JJ
Austlii (High Court of Australia) – Private International Law – Tort – Negligence – Act committed in Territory – Personal injury – Territory statute imposing limit on amount of damages – Action in State court – No limit on amount of damages under State law – Choice of law – Whether law of place of tortious act or of forum – The Constitution (63 and 64 Vict. c. 12), ss. 118, 122 – Motor Accidents (Compensation) Act 1979 (N.T.), ss. 4,5 – State and Territorial Laws and Records Recognition Act 1901 (Cth), s. 18.
Federal Jurisdiction – Conflict of laws – Full faith and credit – Whether State court required to give full faith and credit to Territory statute – Whether law of Territory a law of the Commonwealth – Inconsistency – The Constitution (63 and 64 Vict. c. 12), ss. 109, 118 – State and Territorial Laws and Recognition Act 1901 (Cth), s. 18.
Federal Jurisdiction – Action in State court against Commonwealth – Submission to jurisdiction – Whether federal jurisdiction – Whether State choice of law rules apply – The Constitution (63 and 64 Vict. c. 12), ss. 75(iii), 78 – Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), ss. 39(2), 56, 64, 79.
This case is cited by:

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    The claimant who was Dutch, was a widow of a fisherman who had died at sea. The question on appeal was ‘in assessing damages for loss of dependency should benefits resulting from the loss be deducted from the damages?’ The claimant’s position under . .
  • Cited – Roerig -v- Valiant Trawlers Ltd CA ([2002] All ER (D) 234, Bailii, [2002] EWCA Civ 21, [2002] 1 WLR 2304)
    The claimant who was Dutch, was a widow of a fisherman who had died at sea. The question on appeal was ‘in assessing damages for loss of dependency should benefits resulting from the loss be deducted from the damages?’ The claimant’s position under . .