Smith v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd t/as Coles Distribution Centre; Ready Workforce (A Division of Chandler Macleod) Pty Ltd v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd; Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Chandler Macleod Group Ltd [2020] NSWCA 206

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Smith v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd t/as Coles Distribution Centre; Ready Workforce (A Division of Chandler Macleod) Pty Ltd v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd; Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Chandler Macleod Group Ltd [2020] NSWCA 206 Hearing dates: 22 July 2020 Decision date: 04 September 2020 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Emmett AJA at [213]; Adamson J at [225]. Decision: In each of CA 2019/297428, CA 2019/298538, CA 2020/55981, CA 2020/55990, appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: TORTS — Negligence — appellant worker injured whilst working on respondent's premises — evidence at first instance that risk of injury could have been avoided by provision of a 'pick stick' — primary judge found respondent company had discharged duty of care and was not negligent — whether primary judge erred in failing to address case put by the parties — whether primary judge erred in failing to find non-provision of pick stick was negligent — whether respondent company was negligent — whether any contributory negligence CONTRACTS — cross-claim on labour-hire agreement between appellant and respondent corporations — where primary judge ordered nominal damages — whether damages ought to have been awarded for costs expended in defending claim Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3B, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5R, 5S Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 133 Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 36.1, 36.16, 51.29 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), Pt 5, Div 3, ss 151H, 151I, 151J, 151K, 151L, 151M, 151Z Cases Cited: Alexander v Cambridge Credit Corporation Ltd (1987) 9 NSWLR 310 Anderson v Eric Radio & TV Pty Ltd (1965) 114 CLR 20; [1965] HCA 61 Avopiling Pty Ltd v Bosevski; Avopiling Pty Ltd v The Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer [2018] NSWCA 146 Banque Commerciale SA (en liqn) v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279; [1990] HCA 11 Berry v CCL Secure Pty Ltd [2020] HCA 27 Bostik Australia Pty Ltd v Liddiard [2009] NSWCA 167 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Bridge [2018] NSWCA 183 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Ready Workforce (a Division of Chandler Macleod) Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 140 Commissioner of Railways v Ruprecht (1979) 142 CLR 563; [1979] HCA 37 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64; [1991] HCA 54 Coopers Payen Ltd v Southampton Container Terminal Ltd [2004] 1 Lloyd's Rep 331; [2003] EWCA Civ 1223 Crampton v The Queen (2000) 206 CLR 161; [2000] HCA 60 Czatyrko v Edith Cowan University [2005] HCA 14; 79 ALJR 839 Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658; [1982] HCA 70 Deal v Father Pius Kodakkathanath (2016) 258 CLR 281; [2016] HCA 31 Duyvelshaff v Cathcart & Ritchie Ltd (1973) 47 ALJR 410 Fairall v Hobbs [2017] NSWCA 82; 347 ALR 151 Fuller-Lyons v New South Wales [2015] HCA 31; (2015) 323 ALR 639 Garzo v Liverpool/Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 Insurance Australia Ltd t/a NRMA Insurance v Milton [2016] NSWCA 156 Joslyn v Berryman (2003) 214 CLR 552; [2003] HCA 34 Keith v Gal [2016] NSWCA 152 March v Stramare (E & M H) Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506; [1991] HCA 12 McLean v Tedman (1984) 155 CLR 306; [1984] HCA 60 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1; [1995] HCA 5 Monarch Steamship Co Ltd v Karlshamns Oljefabriker (A/B) [1949] AC 196 Nudd v The Queen [2006] HCA 9; (2006) 225 ALR 161 O'Connor v Commissioner for Government Transport (1954) 100 CLR 225; [1954] HCA 11 Paric v John Holland (Constructions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 58; 59 ALJR 844 Placer (Granny Smith) Pty Ltd v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd [2003] HCA 10; (2003) 77 ALJR 768 R v Associated Northern Collieries (1910) 11 CLR 738; [1910] HCA 61 R v Birks (1990) 19 NSWLR 677 R v Hall (1988) 36 A Crim R 368 R v Klamo (2008) 18 VR 644; [2008] VSCA 75 Robinson v Harman (1848) 1 Exch 850; 154 ER 363 Saffron v Societe Miniere Cafrika (1958) 100 CLR 231; [1958] HCA 50 Tame v State of New South Wales; Annetts v Australian Stations Pty Ltd (2002) 211 CLR 317; [2002] HCA 35 Transpacific Industrial Solutions Pty Ltd v Phelps [2013] NSWCA 31 Urban Transport Authority of New South Wales v Nweiser (1992) 28 NSWLR 471 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40; [1980] HCA 12 Texts Cited: J Edelman, McGregor on Damages (20th ed, Sweet & Maxwell, 2018) Glass, McHugh and Douglas, The Liability of Employers in Damages for Personal Injury (2nd ed, 1979, Law Book Co.) Review of the Law of Negligence: Final Report (Commonwealth of Australia, August 2002) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew Smith (Appellant in 2019/298538) Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (Appellant in 2020/55981 and 2020/55990; respondent in 2019/297428 and 2019/298538) Ready Workforce (A Division of Chandler Macleod) Pty Ltd (Appellant in 2019/297428) Chandler Macleod Group Ltd (Respondent in 2020/55981 and 2020/55990) Representation: Counsel: M Cranitch SC, R Wathukarage, S Blount (Matthew Smith) G Parker SC (Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd) J Catsanos SC (Ready Workforce (A Division of Chandler Macleod) Pty Ltd) A Cheshire SC (Chandler Macleod Group Ltd)