Kerr v Whitehaven Coal Mining Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1096

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Kerr v Whitehaven Coal Mining Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1096 Hearing dates: 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 August 2020 Decision date: 19 August 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson J Decision: (1) Judgment for the defendant. (2) Subject to an application for a different costs order being made in writing to my Associate within 7 days, order the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE — Where plaintiff claimed she was injured while working for defendant at coal mine — Injury allegedly sustained as a result of plaintiff's dump truck jolting upon hitting a 'soft spot' in road — Plaintiff claimed defendant's failure to detect and repair 'soft spot' negligent EVIDENCE — Credibility of witnesses — importance of contemporaneous accounts — effect of litigation, motive and hindsight on recollection and reliability of evidence TORTS — Damages — Assessment of damages — Effect of pre-existing conditions — effect of Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) for worker employed at coal mine Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 3B Coal Mine Health and Safety Regulation 2006 (NSW), cl 15 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 79 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 151G, 151H, Sch 6 Cases Cited: Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1983] 1 NSWLR 1 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Burke v LFOT Pty Ltd (2002) 209 CLR 282; [2002] HCA 17 Czatyrko v Edith Cowan University [2005] HCA 14; (2005) 79 ALJR 839 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588; [2011] HCA 21 Fokas v Staff Australia Pty Ltd [2013] VSCA 230 Hoad v Swan (1920) 28 CLR 258; [1920] HCA 50 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Makita (Aust) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Onassis v Vergottis [1968] 2 Lloyd's Rep 403 Paric v John Holland (Constructions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 58; (1985) 59 ALJR 884 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 R v Birks (1990) 19 NSWLR 677 Ramsay v Watson (1961) 108 CLR 642; [1961] HCA 65 Ronchi v Portland Smelter Services Pty Ltd [2005] VSCA 83 Transport Publishing Co Pty Ltd v Literature Board of Review (1956) 99 CLR 111; [1956] HCA 73 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158; [1960] HCA 58 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kathleen Anne Kerr (Plaintiff) Whitehaven Coal Mining Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: N Polin SC / M Best (Plaintiff) L King SC / T Rowles (Defendant)