Kelly v Thorn; Monteleone v Thorn (No 8) [2021] NSWSC 118

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Kelly v Thorn; Monteleone v Thorn (No 8) [2021] NSWSC 118 Hearing dates: 16–20, 23–25 November 2020 Date of orders: 19 February 2021 Decision date: 19 February 2021 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Cavanagh J Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff, Ross Monteleone, in the amount of $1,435,339. (2) Judgment for the plaintiffs, William Andrew Kelly, William Richard Kelly and Margaret Jane Kelly, in an amount to be agreed or determined. (3) Cross-claim dismissed. (4) The defendants to pay the costs on the cross-claim. (5) The defendants to pay the plaintiff's (Ross Monteleone's) costs. (6) The defendants to pay the plaintiffs' (William Andrew Kelly's, William Richard Kelly's and Margaret Jane Kelly's) costs. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE — workplace injury — third-party tortfeasor — plaintiff unloading sheep from trailer when deck allegedly dropped on his arm by defendant — whether accident occurred as alleged — breach — liability of employers — damages WORKERS COMPENSATION — uninsured liabilities — where plaintiff sought and received payments from, and employers reimbursed, the Nominal Insurer — whether employers entitled to indemnity from third-party tortfeasor — whether defence pleaded — proper construction of s 151Z(1)(d) of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) — meaning of "the person by whom the compensation was paid" Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 5B Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 14.14 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), Pts 2–4, ss 9, 142A, 145, 148A, 151Z Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Bankstown Foundry Pty Ltd v Braistina (1986) 160 CLR 301; [1986] HCA 20 Husher v Husher (1999) 197 CLR 138; [1999] HCA 47 Moss v State of New South Wales (2000) 54 NSWLR 536; [2000] NSWCA 133 Nominal Defendant v Livaja [2011] NSWCA 121 Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 QBE Workers Compensation (NSW) Ltd v Dolan (2004) 62 NSWLR 42; [2004] NSWCA 458 Rabay & Anor v Bristow [2005] NSWCA 199 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 Société d'Avances Commerciales (Société Anonyme Egyptienne) v Merchants' Marine Insurance Co (The "Palitana") (1924) 20 Ll L Rep 140 South Western Sydney Local Health District v Sorbello [2017] NSWCA 201 Vozza v Tooth & Co Ltd (1964) 112 CLR 316; [1964] HCA 29 White v Overland [2001] FCA 1333 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Proceedings 2015/326714 William Andrew Kelly (First Plaintiff) William Richard Kelly (Second Plaintiff) Margaret Jane Kelly (Third Plaintiff) Andrew Thorn (First Defendant) Thorn Transport Pty Limited (Second Defendant)