Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG P/L & Johnson [2002] QCA 88

TORTS - NEGLIGENCE - ESSENTIALS OF ACTION FOR NEGLIGENCE - DUTY OF CARE - WHERE ECONOMIC OR FINANCIAL LOSS - CARELESS ACTS OR OMISSIONS - where defective design of commercial premises caused subsequent structural defects - liability of defendant engineers to subsequent purchaser TORTS - NEGLIGENCE - ESSENTIALS OF ACTION FOR NEGLIGENCE - DUTY OF CARE - WHERE ECONOMIC OR FINANCIAL LOSS - principles in Bryan v Maloney and Fangrove discussed - whether to extend duty of care to subsequent purchasers of commercial premises - whether Perre v Apand supports such an extension of claim for pure economic loss - consideration of overseas authorities - where distinction between commercial purchasers and domestic home buyers properly maintained

Builders Registration and Home Owners Protection Act (Qld) 1979 Queensland Building Services Authority Act (Qld) 1991

Anns v Merton London Borough Council [1977] UKHL 4; [1978] AC 728, referred to

Canadian National Railway v Norsk Pacific Steamship Co (1992) 1 SCR 1021, considered

Casa Clara Condominium Ass'n v Charley Toppino & Sons (1993) 620 So 2d 1244 (Fla), considered

Fangrove Pty Ltd v Tod Group Holdings Pty Ltd [1998] QCA 404; [1999] 2 Qd R 236, followed

Hill v Van Erp (1997) 188 CLR 159, referred to

Perre v Apand Pty Ltd [1999] HCA 36; (1999) 198 CLR 180, considered Sewell v Gregory (1998) 371 SE 2d 82, considered Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman [1985] HCA 41; (1985) 157 CLR 424, referred to

Woollahra Municipal Council v Sved (1996) 40 NSWLR 101, referred to

Zumpano v Montagnese [1997] 2 VR 525, referred to

A M Daubney SC with K Buxton for the appellant P A Keane QC with P D T Applegarth SC and M A Hoch for the defendants