Fitzgerald v Hill; 16 Sep 2008

References: (2008) 51 MVR 55, [2008] QCA 283
Links: Austlii
Coram: McMurdo P, Holmes JA and Mackenzie AJA
(Supreme Court of Queensland – Court of Appeal) TORTS – NEGLIGENCE – ESSENTIALS OF ACTION FOR NEGLIGENCE – DUTY OF CARE – SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND DUTIES – OTHER CASES – plaintiff child was a member of a tae kwon do academy in Townsville – class included children and adults under control of instructor – instructor took class to nearby beach to train – class ran along the side of the road in bare feet at dusk – plaintiff child hit by car while crossing road – sixth defendant was owner-operator of tae kwon do academy – whether the sixth defendant owed the plaintiff a non-delegable duty of care
PROCEDURE – SUPREME COURT PROCEDURE – QUEENSLAND – PROCEDURE UNDER RULES OF COURT – PLEADING – DEFENCE AND COUNTERCLAIM – plaintiff pleaded in statement of claim that the sixth defendant was the owner-operator of the tae kwon do academy – sixth defendant admitted that paragraph of the statement of claim in his defence – sixth defendant was refused leave to withdraw that admission – sixth defendant gave evidence at trial that other persons had elements of control over the academy – other evidence led at trial supported admission – whether trial judge could act upon admission
APPEAL AND NEW TRIAL – APPEAL – PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – QUEENSLAND – TIME FOR APPEAL – EXTENSION OF TIME – WHEN REFUSED – sixth defendant made admission in pleadings that he was the owner-operator of the tae kwon do academy that the plaintiff attended – sixth defendant’s application to withdraw admission refused – sixth defendant did not lodge appeal against decision until after final judgment was delivered following the trial – whether sixth defendant should be granted an extension of time to appeal against interlocutory decision – appropriate time to appeal interlocutory decision
This case is cited by:

  • Cited – Woodland -v- The Swimming Teachers’ Association and Others QBD (Bailii, [2011] EWHC 2631 (QB), [2012] PIQR P3, [2012] ELR 76)
    The court was asked as to the vicarious or other liability of a school where a pupil suffered injury at a swimming lesson with a non-employee during school time, and in particular whether it had a non-delegable duty to ensure the welfare of children . .