Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] 285 ALR 420
Summary
In the recent decision of Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] 285 ALR
420, the High Court of Australia revisited the issue of causation
in slip and fall cases where there is limited factual evidence
available, and considered the inferences that can be made from
those evidentiary gaps.
Background
On 24 September 2004 Kathryn Strong, the appellant, visited a
temporary sidewalk sales area that was operated by Woolworths,
trading as Big W, at the Centro shopping centre in Taree. The
appellant walked with the aid of crutches. As the appellant stopped
to inspect a pot plant at the edge of the sidewalk sales area at
12:30pm, her crutch came into contact with a hot potato chip
(the chip), or with grease deposited by the chip,
and the crutch slipped out from under her, causing her to fall.
