Slater & Gordon Ltd v Sellars [2020] NSWSC 1793

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Slater & Gordon Ltd v Sellars [2020] NSWSC 1793 Hearing dates: 8 December 2020 Date of orders: 8 December 2020 Decision date: 08 December 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Rees J Decision: Strike out part of defence and cross claim. Catchwords: PLEADINGS – strike out – solicitor resigns and establishes new law firm – former employer receives 146 file transfer requests to new firm – solicitor sued for breach of fiduciary duties – employee files cross-claim seeking work injury damages for bullying causing mental illness – workers compensation legislation not complied with – employee not presently entitled to bring cross-claim – whether workers compensation legislation applies to cross-claims – whether equitable set-off – cross-claim struck out. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 21, 22 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 9.1, 14.2, 14.28(1) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 9AA, 150A, 150B, 151H(1) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), ss 4, 250, 254(1), 280A, 312, 313, 315, 316, 317, 318A, 318H Cases Cited: Agar v Hyde [2000] HCA 41; (2000) 201 CLR 552 Crabb v Arun District Council [1976] Ch 179 Dillingham Constructions Pty Limited v Steel Mains Pty Limited (1975) 132 CLR 323 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1964] HCA 69; (1964) 112 CLR 125 Grant v NZMC Ltd [1989] 1 NZLR 8 Minister for Lands and Forests v McPherson (1991) 22 NSWLR 687 Roadshow Entertainment Pty Ltd v ACN 053 006 269 Pty Limited (1997) 42 NSWLR 462 Sydmar Pty Ltd v Statewise Developments Pty Limited (1987) 73 ALR 289 Texts Cited: Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines and Remedies The Hon. Mark Leeming, Equity: Ageless in the 'Age of Statutes' (2015) 9 Journal of Equity 108 Taylor P, E Elms E, Justice G Bellew and M Meek, Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure NSW (Looseleaf, LexisNexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Slater & Gordon Ltd (Plaintiff/Cross-defendant) Erin Sellars (First defendant/Cross-claimant) Justice4All Pty Ltd trading as Don Cameron & Associates (Second defendant) Donald Cameron (Third defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr S Prince SC (Plaintiff/Cross-defendant) Mr G O'Shea (First Defendant/Cross-claimant) Mr B Lloyd (Second and Third Defendants)