Richard Gillam v Cumberland Council [2021] NSWDC 538

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Richard Gillam v Cumberland Council [2021] NSWDC 538 Hearing dates: 24 and 25 February 2021 1, 2 and 3 March 2021 14 May 2021 Date of orders: 23 August 2021 Decision date: 23 August 2021 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Hatzistergos DCJ Decision: Verdict for the Defendant Catchwords: PERSONAL INJURY –– Plaintiff sustained injury to his left wrist performing work for the Defendant as a general labourer using a high pressure hose – Where evidence of different versions recorded about how accident occurred – General caution to be exercised in considering such versions – Where Plaintiff had not established accident occurred in the manner contended – Court not satisfied that the relevant risk of harm materialised – Where the Plaintiff did not advance an alternate case EVIDENCE –– Witness evidence – Where Plaintiff fails to question a witness it called in respect of circumstances surrounding injury – Where no inferences favourable drawn due to the Plaintiff's failure to ask questions of a witness in chief or re-examination – Consideration of principles in Jones v Dunkel and Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd DAMAGES –– Non-economic loss – Past and Future out of Pocket Expenses – Future loss of earning capacity – Past and Future Domestic Assistance Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2005 (NSW), ss 3, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5H, 13 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 36, 38 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151Z Cases Cited: Alan Donald v Rail Corporation of New South Wales [2016] NSWSC 1897 Atkinson v Gameco (NSW) Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 338 Bassett v Cameron [2021] NSWSC 207 Bostik Australia Pty Ltd v Liddiard [2009] NSWCA 167 Bourke v Victorian Work Cover Authority [1999] 1 VR 189 Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 Davies v Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited (2020) 300 IR 76; [2020] NSWCA 219 Davis v Council of the City of Wagga Wagga [2004] NSWCA 34 Fox v Wood (1981) 148 CLR 438 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298. Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; (2011) 276 ALR 375 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd (2008) 172 IR 453; [2008] NSWCA 99 Raimondo v State of South Australia (1979) 23 ALR 513 Sangha v Baxter (2009) 52 MVR 492; [2009] NSWCA 78 SAS Realty Developments Pty Ltd v Kerr [2013] NSWCA 56 Shaw v Thomas [2010] NSWCA 169 Teuma v CP & PK Judd Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 166 TNT Australia Pty Ltd v Christie (2003) 65 NSWLR 1; [2003] NSWCA 27 White v Benjamin [2015] NSWCA 75 Williams v Metcash Trading Ltd (2019) 286 IR 438; [2019] NSWCA 94 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Richard Gillam (Plaintiff) Cumberland Council (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J. Malouf (Plaintiff) R. Gambi (Defendant