← All Authorities
Australia Leading Case breach standard of care

Wyong Shire Council v Shirt

(1980) 146 CLR 40
JurisdictionAustralia
CourtHigh Court of Australia
Year1980
StatusBinding authority

Summary

A risk is foreseeable if it is not far-fetched or fanciful, and a reasonable response to that risk must be assessed by weighing its probability, gravity, and the burden of precautions.

Key Principle

standard of care; reasonable response to a foreseeable risk that is not insignificant

Area of Law

Tort and Negligence

Related Cases

Cattanach v Melchior (2003) 215 CLR 1

Costs of raising a healthy child born following negligent sterilisation advice are recoverable as damages in a wrongful birth claim.

Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562

HCA held that a general neighbourhood principle cannot determine duty of care; coherence of the law acts as a constraining factor in novel duty situations.

Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180

High Court of Australia established a multi-factor approach to pure economic loss, considering vulnerability, assumption of responsibility, and control in determining duty of care.

Ask CommonBench about this case

Get a detailed analysis of Wyong Shire Council v Shirt and how it applies to your situation.

Explain Wyong Shire Council v Shirt