D’Herville v Mt Arthur Coal Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1367

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: D'Herville v Mt Arthur Coal Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1367 Hearing dates: 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; December 2019; 2 March 2020 Date of orders: 29 October 2021 Decision date: 29 October 2021 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: (1) Judgment for the defendant (2) Plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE – work injury damages – coal-miner – where plaintiff received injury to right shoulder and neck while operating dump truck – whether bulldozer created hazard in the road – whether injury caused by ditch in road or rough surface – no liability DAMAGES – assessment – statutory thresholds for workers compensation – question of later exacerbation of injury at work Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 44, 108 Workers Compensation Legislation Further Amendment Act 2001 (NSW) Workers' Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 35, 151B, 151G, 151H, 151I Cases Cited: Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63 Bressington v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1947) 75 CLR 339; [1947] HCA 47 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Hellessey v Metlife Insurance Limited [2017] NSWSC 1284 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Kempsey District Hospital v Thackham (1995) 36 NSWLR 492 Najdovski v Crnojlovic [2008] NSWCA 175 Piening v Wanless (1968) 117 CLR 498; [1968] HCA 7 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Ltd (2000) 200 CLR 121; [2000] HCA 18 Swain v Waverley Municipal Council (2005) 220 CLR 517; [2005] HCA 4 Wiki v Atlantis Relocations (NSW) Pty Ltd (2004) 60 NSWLR 127; [2004] NSWCA 174 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Tanya Jane D'Herville (Plaintiff) Mt Arthur Coal Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P B Dooley SC with P O'Rourke (Plaintiff) L King SC (Defendant)