Mark has been listed as Recommended Senior Counsel in Doyle’s Leading New South Wales Insurance & Personal Injury Barristers 2017 and recognised in the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers in Australia in the areas of Insurance Law & Professional Malpractice Litigation (listed since 2019).
Diploma of Law (Barristers Admission Board)
Master of Laws, University of Sydney
Solicitor and Senior Associate, Ebsworth and Ebsworth (now HWL Ebsworth)
Solicitor, Ferrier & Associates
High Court of Australia
Waterways Authority v Fitzgibbon [2005] HCA 57 (05 October 2005) (Gleeson CJ, McHugh, Gummow, Kirby, Hayne, Callinan and Heydon JJ) 79 ALJR 1816; 221 ALR 402 – leading case on injuries sustained at recreational areas; marina
Mulligan v Coffs Harbour City Council [2005] HCA 63 (21 October 2005) (Gleeson CJ, McHugh, Gummow, Kirby, Hayne, Callinan and Heydon JJ) 223 CLR 486; 80 ALJR 43; 221 ALR 764 – leading decision on need for warning for obvious risks at natural water attractions
New South Wales Court of Appeal
The Council of the Municipality of Waverley v Bloom [1999] NSWCA 229 (05 August 1999) (Mason P, Sheller and Powell JJA) – swimmer injured when stuck by surfer while between flags- appeal dismissed
Feletti v Kontoulas [2000] NSWCA 59 (23 March 2000) (Mason P, Sheller JA and Rolfe AJA)- liability of solicitor for failure to bring proceedings; assessment of chances of success if proceedings brought
Stratti v Stratti [2000] NSWCA 358 (14 December 2000) (Meagher, Beazley and Fitzgerald JJA) 50 NSWLR 324 – partnership and contribution – leading case on contribution
Sutherland Shire Council v Kukovec and 1 Or; Elouera Surf Lifesaving Club Inc v Kukovec [2001] NSWCA 165 (05 June 2001) (Meagher and Hodgson JJA, Ipp AJA) – appeal allowed in case where surfer injured swimmer; vicarious liability for life guards
Adwell Holdings Pty Ltd v Smith [2003] NSWCA 103 (02 May 2003) (Mason P, Meagher JA and Buddin J) – leading case on valuation principles and the so called 10-15% margin for error
Ryde City Council v Wendy Joyce Smith [2003] NSWCA 57 (06 March 2003) – liability case involving pedestrian tripping on council footpath – appeal dismissed
Forbes v Selleys Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 149 (12 May 2004) (Mason P, Giles and McColl JJA) – products liability claim involving use of “No More Gaps” product said to cause brain damage – expert evidence – appeal dismissed
Lasermax Engineering Pty Limited v QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited [2005] NSWCA 66 (16 March 2005) (Ipp, Tobias and McColl JJA) (2005) 13 ANZ Ins Cas ¶61–643 – policy construction; “direct cause” “proximate cause” in relation to electricity supply to machinery
Lemoto v Able Technical Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 153 (09 May 2005) 63 NSWLR 300 – leading case on personal costs orders against solicitors
Copmanhurst Shire Council v Watt [2005] NSWCA 245 (26 July 2005) 140 LGERA 333 –driver rendered quadriplegic; whether stuck kangaroo; roadworks; council duty of care to warn – appeal dismissed
Bernasconi v Newcastle City Council [2005] NSWCA 422 (05 December 2005) (Giles and McColl JJA, Brownie AJA – injury on footpath; application to argue High Court precedent wrong rejected
Ingham v ACN 000 333 844 Ltd (In Liq) (formerly known as Australian Casualty and Life Ltd) [2006] NSWCA 63 (03 April 2006) (Handley, Giles and Santow JJA) – life insurance case – construction of policy
JX v GX [2006] NSWCA 167 (29 June 2006) (Handley JA at 1; Santow JA at 32; McColl JA at 38) – application to extend limitation period refused
State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Brown [2006] NSWCA 220 (07 August 2006) (Giles JA at 1; Santow JA at 27; Basten JA at 28) – rule in Brown v Dunn as it applies to expert medical witnesses- requirement to cross-examine
Orix Australia Corporation Limited v Moody Kiddell and Partners Pty Limited [2006] NSWCA 257 (26 September 2006) (Spigelman CJ at 1; Ipp JA at 2; Basten JA at 81) – liability of leasing broker for fraudulent invoices created by customer – appeal dismissed
Great Lakes Shire Council v Dederer [2006] NSWCA 101 (05 October 2006) (Handley JA at 1; Ipp JA at 67; Tobias JA at 325) 2006 ATR 81-860 – diving injury resulting in quadriplegia; Council successful on appeal; case went to high court but no appeal against Council – leading case on diving from structures and whether duty tro warn of obvious risks
NSW Bar Association v Meakes [2006] NSWCA 340 (06 December 2006) (Tobias JA; Bryson JA; Basten JA) – barrister engaging in overcharging – appeal dismissed
MBF Life Limited v Rowena Marchant [2006] NSWCA 363 (15 December 2006) (Handley JA; Beazley JA; Santow JA) – disability policy; interpretation of insuring clause and exclusion
Harrison v Melhem [2008] NSWCA 67 (29 May 2008) (Spigelman CJ; Mason P; Beazley JA ; Giles JA ; Basten JA) 72 NSWLR 380; 26 ACLC 484; (2008) Aust Torts Reports ¶81–951 – leading case on proper interpretation of section 15 Civil Liability Act
Sagacious Legal Pty Ltd v Wesfarmers General Insurance Ltd [2011] FCAFC 53 (13 April 2011) (Besanko, Perram and Katzmann JJ) (2011) 16 ANZ Ins Cas ¶61–885 – important case on section 26 and 27 of the Insurance contracts act
Ryland v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd [2013] NSWCA 120 (03 May 2013) (Basten, Meagher and Gleeson JJA) – slipping case at supermarket – appeal dismissed
Action Paintball Games Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) v Barker [2013] NSWCA 128 (13 May 2013) (Basten, Hoeben and Ward JJA) – injury at paintball centre; obvious risks; appeal dismissed
Australian Winch and Haulage Company Pty Ltd v Philip Archibald Collins [2013] NSWCA 232 (11 July 2013) (Emmett and Leeming JJA, Sackville AJA) – appeal dismissed in action involving failure of engineered “D” shackle; onus of proof re defect
Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v Cosmidis [2013] NSWCA 443 (18 December 2013) (McColl, Basten and Emmett JJA) – leading case on objections to expert evidence and particulars of claim
Reid v Target Australia Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 60 (17 March 2014) (Macfarlan, Ward and Emmett JJA) – slip at Club – appeal dismissed – expert evidence and application to adduce evidence out of time
State of New South Wales v Konneh [2014] NSWCA 91 (31 March 2014) (Macfarlan and Ward JJA) – class action against NSW Police for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment; leave to appeal refused on basis that “Meridian principle” able to be argued at trial
Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v Cosmidis (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 139 (07 May 2014) (McColl, Basten and Emmett JJA) 86 NSWLR 393 – assessment of contributory negligence at brickworks
Boral Resources (NSW) Pty Ltd v Gangi [2014] NSWCA 287 (28 August 2014) (Basten, Gleeson and Leeming JJA); road building case; gravel on road; quadruplegic– appeal dismissed
Ball v McInerney [2014] NSWCA 331 (19 September 2014) (Beazley P, Emmett and Gleeson JJA) – commercial dispute concerning construction of equestrian facilities and drainage issues
Grima v RFI (Aust) Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 345 (21 November 2014) (Meagher, Barrett and Emmett JJA) – paraplegic injured due to inadequate loading of carpet rolls; expert evidence; apportionment between parties
Lee v Wickham Freight Lines Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 209 (15 August 2016) (Basten and Simpson JJA, Sackville AJA) – appeal dismissed – allegation of unsafe system of loading truck at logistic centre; whether worker an employee or not
Zhang v ROC Services (NSW) Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 370 (22 December 2016) (Macfarlan and Leeming JJA, Sackville AJA) 93 NSWLR 561 – person rendered quadriplegic by mechanical failure of welding of ramps; policy interpretation; exclusion; leading case in proper interpretation of policies
South Western Sydney Local Health District v Sorbello [2017] NSWCA 201 (11 August 2017) (Macfarlan, Meagher and Simpson JJA) – leading case on onus of proof to establish loss of earning capacity
Kabic v AAI Limited t/as GIO [2019] NSWCA 247 (11 October 2019) (Meagher, White and McCallum JJA) – appeal dismissed in industrial accident involving scaffolding at construction site
Murgolo v AAI Ltd t/as AAMI [2019] NSWCA 295 (05 December 2019) (Basten, Macfarlan and Leeming JJA) 101 NSWLR 376 – leading case on discoverability under Limitation Act
Marketform Managing Agency Ltd for and on behalf of the Underwriting Members of Syndicate 2468 for the 2009 Year of Account v Ashcroft Supa IGA Orange Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 36 (10 March 2020) (Ward CJ In Eq, Leeming and Payne JJA) – appeal dismissed; construction of exclusion in insurance policy
Todd Hadley Pty Limited v Lake Maintenance (NSW) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] NSWCA 81 (30 April 2020) (Bell P, Basten and Macfarlan JJA) – leading case on when time starts to run under limitation act in non-personal injury cases
Spotlight Pty Ltd v Fatseas Investments Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 132 (03 July 2020) (Gleeson and White JJA, Emmett AJA) – construction of lease; damage by pigeons – appeal dismissed
Mentink v Olsen [2020] NSWCA 182 (21 August 2020) (Meagher and Payne JJA, Emmett AJA) – wills and estates; unconscionable conduct by stepdaughter of leading artist John Olsen – appeal dismissed
GC NSW Pty Ltd v Galati [2020] NSWCA 326 (11 December 2020) (Gleeson and White JJA, Emmett AJA) – equity – construction of contract for sale and deeds
Supreme Court – Single Judge
Lanza v Codemo [2001] NSWSC 845 (28 September 2001) (Wood CJ at CL) quadriplegic case involving complex expert issues and use of elevated platform – proceedings dismissed
Aspro’s Pty Limitied v Robert Frederick Hayter [2005] NSWSC 512 (01 June 2005) (Bergin J) – lease rectification ; common or unilateral mistake
QBE Insurance v SLE Worldwide [2005] NSWSC 776 (29 July 2005) (White J) – contribution between insurers
Bennett v Manly Council and Sydney Water Corporation [2006] NSWSC 242 (04 April 2006) (Hislop J) 146 LGERA 60 – paraplegic injury while swimming in surf; liability of council and Water Board and plaintiff’s contributory negligence
R&J Lyons Family Settlement Pty Limited v 155 Macquarie Street Pty Limited [2006] NSWSC 625 (22 June 2006) (Windeyer J at 1)- building and construction case; interpretation of commercial lease; expert evidence
Tabet v Mansour & Anor [2007] NSWSC 36 – leading case on causation in High Court; six week trial against paediatrician and GP; complex medical issues; first case to use joint evidence
Greater Southern Area Health Service v Dr Angus [2007] NSWSC 1211 (02 November 2007) (Adams J at 1) – medical negligence claim against gynocologist
Lawloan Mortgages Pty Ltd v Young [2008] NSWSC 1180 (14 November 2008) (Rothman J) – Farm Debt Mediation Act – proceedings dismissed
George v Survery [2009] NSWSC 1348 (09 December 2009) (Hoeben J) – medical negligence; causation of injury by surgical misadventure or arteriosclerosis
Jerry Schwartz v Albert Hadid Albert Hadid v Jerry Schwartz [2011] NSWSC 1041 (06 September 2011) (McDougall J) – construction of commercial agreement
Sapphire (SA) Pty Ltd (trading as River City Grain) v Barry Smith Grains Pty Ltd (in liq) [2011] NSWSC 1451 (28 November 2011) (Ward J) – commercial cause re grain contracts and terms
Joel Joseph Cabides v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] NSWSC 445 (14 April 2014) (Rothman J) – case settled before trial but involved issues of life expectancy, use of statistics and high level quadriplegic
Cahill v Kenna (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 200 (17 March 2015) (McDougall J) – leading case on admissibility of expert valuation evidence
The Owners – Strata Plan 74602 v Eastmark Holdings Pty Ltd; Eastmark Holdings Pty Ltd v The Owners – Strata Plan 74602 [2015] NSWSC 1981 (24 December 2015) (Stevenson J) – building dispute involving strata mangers and obligations in relation to fire services
Le v Brown, Nguyen v Brown; Tran v Brown; Monica v Brown; Huggett v Brown (No.2) [2019] NSWSC 88 (14 February 2019) (Garling J) – complex expert evidence relating to multi vehicle accident and speed and weight of heavy motor vehicles – proceedings dismissed
Lukaszewicz v Polish Club Limited [2019] NSWSC 669 (06 June 2019) (Black J) – oppression under section 232 Corporations Act – proceedings dismissed
Welsh v Carnival PLC trading as Carnival Australia (No 1) [2016] NSWSC 1270 (09 September 2016) (Bellew J) – series of important evidentiary rulings in long running trial. plaintiff consented to judgement for defendant at end of hearing
Downer EDI Rail Pty Ltd v John Holland Pty Ltd; John Holland Pty Ltd v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd (No 5); Kellogg Brown and Root Pty Ltd v John Holland Pty Ltd (No 4) [2018] NSWSC 326 (20 March 2018) (Stevenson J) complex and lengthy building and construction claim ; whether property damage sustained so as to trigger QBE policy – proceedings dismissed after lengthy trial
Bassal v Savills (NSW) Pty Limited [2019] NSWSC 696 (24 July 2019) (N Adams J) – six week trial involving complex issues of valuation of shopping centres – proceedings dismissed
Wykrota v Polish Club Ltd [2020] NSWSC 239 (16 March 2020) (Stevenson J) – oppression proceedings dismissed against Club
McMurray v AIG Insurance Australia Ltd [No 4] [2020] WASC 210 (03 June 2020) (Smith J) – lengthy and complex trial concerning fire in luxury premiss and cause of fire – subject to appeal
Metri v Nestlé Australia Ltd [2021] NSWSC 343 (07 April 2021) (Adamson J) complex issues relating to fault in module of electric forklift – proceedings dismissed (appeal expected to be diamissed)
Darshn v Avant Insurance Limited [2021] FCA 706 (25 June 2021) (Moshinsky J) – interpretation of medical insurance policy and sections 13 and 40(3) of Insurance Contracts Act – appeal to Full Court to be heard in February 2022
Please note that not all cases have been included and that many cases settle at mediation or during a trial
(02) 8915 5135
mmcculloch@13wentworth.com.au
1990
2004