Moffett v Robin [2021] NSWDC 211

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Moffett v Robin [2021] NSWDC 211 Hearing dates: 3-4 June 2020 (Newcastle); 10-11 June 2020 (Newcastle); 13-16 October 2020 (Sydney); 2-4 November 2020 (Sydney); 8-10 December 2020 (Sydney); 22 February 2021 (Sydney); 13 April 2021 (Sydney – oral submissions) Date of orders: 28 May 2021 Decision date: 28 May 2021 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Dicker SC DCJ Decision: See paragraph 634 Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) claim – work accident – whether the plaintiff's claim was properly a claim brought under the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) or the Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) – whether the plaintiff had a contract of service or a contract for services – whether the plaintiff was a "worker" or "deemed worker" - whether tree felling and pruning company was vicariously liable for person working with the plaintiff on the day of the accident or such person was the company's agent – whether breach by company of duty of care EMPLOYMENT LAW – whether the plaintiff had a contract of service or a contract for services – whether plaintiff was an employee of the second defendant – indicia of employment – control – uniforms – supply of equipment – concentration of work for one entity Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Civil Liability (Non-Economic Loss) Amendment Order 2020 (NSW) Employees Liability Act 1991 (NSW). Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) Cases Cited: AMP Society v Chaplin (1978) 18 ALR 385 (Privy Council) Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 Bradburn v Great Western Railway Co (1874) LR 10 Ex 1 Brambles Constructions Pty Ltd v Helmers [1966] HCA 3; (1966) 114 CLR 213 Bryan v Maloney (1995) 182 CLR 609; [1995] HCA 17 Burton v Babb [2020] NSWCA 331 Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited v Producers and Citizens Co-operative Insurance Co of Australia Limited [1931] HCA 53; (1931) 46 CLR 41 Container Terminals Australia Ltd v Huseyin [2008] NSWCA 320 Cyril Smith & Associates Pty Ltd v The Owners-Strata Plan No 64970 [2011] NSWCA 181 Dal v Chol [2018] NSWCA 219 Davis v Pioneer Concrete (NSW) Pty Ltd [1976] 1 NSWLR 562 Dental Corporation Pty Ltd v Moffet [2020] FCAFC 118 Downes v Amaca Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 76 Ebb v Fast Fix Steel Fixing Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 236 Florida Hotels Pty Ltd v Mayo (1965) 113 CLR 588; [1965] HCA 26 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Haines v Bendall [1991] HCA 15; (1991) 172 CLR 60 at 63 Hallmark Construction Pty Ltd v Brett Harford [2020] NSWCA 41 Higgins v Jackson [1976] 135 CLR 174 Hollis v Vabu Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 44; (2001) 207 CLR 21 Humberstone v Northern Timber Mills (1949) 79 CLR 389 Jackson v McDonald's Australia Ltd [2014] NSWCA 162 James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v Seltsam Pty Ltd [1998] HCA 78; (1998) 196 CLR 53 Jamsek v ZG Operations Australia Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 119 Jurox Pty Ltd v Fullick [2016] NSWCA 180 Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672 Lister v Romford Ice & Cold Storage Co Ltd [1957] AC 555 Livingstone v Rawyards Coal Co (1880) 5 App CAS 25 Lloyd v Thornbury [2019] NSWCA 154 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Miljus v Watpow Constructions Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 96 National Insurance Co of New Zealand v Espagne (1961) 105 CLR 569 Northern Sandblasting Pty Ltd v Harris (1997) 188 CLR 313 Parkview Constructions Pty Ltd v Abrahim [2013] NSWCA 460 Patrick Stevedores Operations (No 2) Pty Ltd v Hennessy [2015] NSWCA 253 Penrith City Council v Parks [2004] NSWCA 201 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALR 529 Police Service of New South Wales v Honeysett [2001] NSWCA 452 RTA v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; (2012) 246 CLR 182 Sydney Water Corporation v Abramovic [2007] NSWCA 248 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Miller (2015) 91 NSWLR 752; [2015] NSWCA 320 Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19; (2013) 250 CLR 375 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 WB Jones Staircase & Handrail Pty Ltd v Richardson [2014] NSWCA 127 Zuijs v Wirth Brothers Pty Ltd (1955) 93 CLR 561 Category: Principal judgment Parties: John Moffett (Plaintiff) Apihana Robin (First Defendant; Cross-Claimant to First Cross-Claim; Cross-Defendant to Fourth Cross-Claim) Active Tree Services Pty Ltd (Second Defendant; Cross-Defendant to First Cross-Claim; Cross-Claimant to Second Cross-Claim; Cross-Claimant to Fourth Cross-Claim) WFI Insurance Limited t/as Lumley Insurance (Cross-Defendant to Second Cross-Claim) Representation: Counsel: C Hart (Plaintiff) A Combe – via AVL and later in person (First Defendant; Cross-Claimant to First Cross-Claim; Cross-Defendant to Fourth Cross-Claim) S McMahon (Second Defendant; Cross-Defendant to First Cross-Claim; Cross-Claimant to Second Cross-Claim; Cross-Claimant to Fourth Cross-Claim) M Hamdan – via AVL and later in person (Cross-Defendant to Second Cross-Claim)