Peter Ford | Partner Dip Law (LPAB) 1981 t: 61 (2) 8231 6209 e: peter.ford@curwoods.com.au   Public & Products Liability

Main areas of practice

Insurance claim resolution with an emphasis on major claims in the areas of public and products liability.

Background

Peter heads the firm's public and products liability team.  This team acts for many major insurers including CGU, QBE, NRMA and Vero and for various brokers such as Marsh.

Peter has advised on public liability and products liability claims, ranging from occupier's liability claims (commercial, construction, farm and domestic) to defective product actions, for over 28 years.  He also has substantial experience advising on coronial inquiries including many high profile inquiries attracting significant media coverage.

Experience

Peter was an early user of informal settlement conferences and has an enviable settlement rate.

He has been involved in significant litigation in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia.  In the Court of Appeal Peter successfully:

• Acted for the defendant insurer in the Desmond v Cullen case which was the first case in an Appellate Court in Australia relating to the liability of an occupier of licensed premises to an intoxicated patron injured off the premises.
• Acted for the defendant in the Millington v Wilkie case which involved a claim against the Darling  Harbour Authority for injuries sustained on their premises and Canuto v Boyded Industries and Richard v Gendore Enterprises, where the plaintiff sought leave to appeal to the High Court and all leave applications were dismissed.
• Acted for security firm in the Portelli v Tabriska case which involved a person being bashed outside a hotel by another patron.  The case raised questions about foreseeable risk and duty of care.  The plaintiff lost at first instance and in the Court of Appeal and has now sought leave to appeal to the High Court.

Peter has advised on over 20 coronial inquiries including an inquiry which attracted significant media attention.  It involved the tragic death of a young girl in a spa at a holiday unit complex on the north coast of New South Wales.  As a result of the inquiry it is likely there will be widespread changes to the Australian Standards governing the contruction of pools and spas.

Professional activities

Member, Australian Insurance Law Association.

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