Ajia v TJ & RF Fordham Pty Ltd trading as TRN Group [2020] NSWDC 371

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ajia v TJ & RF Fordham Pty Ltd trading as TRN Group [2020] NSWDC 371 Hearing dates: 6, 7 and 8 May 2020; 15 June 2020 Decision date: 20 July 2020 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Scotting DCJ Decision: (1) Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $662,102.00. (2) The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs of the proceedings on the ordinary basis as agreed or assessed. (3) I grant leave to the parties to approach my Associate to relist the matter if an alternate costs order is sought. Catchwords: TORTS – Negligence – Duty of care owed to labour hire worker by controller of building site - Duty to provide safe system of work – Duty to provide competent staff – Skylarking – Horseplay - Breach of duty – Causation – Contributory negligence – Assessment of Damages Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Workers Compensation Act 1987 Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak (2009) 239 CLR 420 Consolidated Broken Hill Ltd v Edwards [2005] NSWCA 380 Container Terminals Ltd v Huseyin [2008] NSWCA 320 Fox v Wood (1981) 148 CLR 438 Grills v Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 72 Harriton v Stephens (2004) 59 NSWLR 694 Hudson v Ridge Manufacturing Co Ltd [1957] 2 All ER 229 Joslyn v Berryman (2003) 214 CLR 552 Jurox Pty Ltd v Fullick [2016] NSWCA 180 Livingstone v Rawyards Coal Co (1880) 5 App Cas 25 Macquarie Area Health Service v Egan [2002] NSWCA 26 Mead v Kearney [2012] NSWCA 215 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Naidu (2007) 71 NSWLR 471 Neindorf v Junkovic (2005) 80 ALJR 341 Paterson v Kincora Enterprises Pty Ltd trading as Burwood Reinforced Plastics [2001] NSWSC 1006 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALR 529 South Western Local Health District v Sorbello [2017] NSWCA 201 Teubner v Humble (1963) 108 CLR 491 TNT Australia Ltd v Christie (2003) 65 NSWLR 1 Todorovic v Waller (1981) 150 CLR 402 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council (2005) 223 CLR 422 Wilsons and Clyde Coal Co v English [1938] AC 57 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jony Ajia (Plaintiff) TJ & RF Fordham Pty Ltd trading as TRN Group (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: B McManamey (Plaintiff) S McCarthy (Defendant)