Mt Owen Pty Ltd v Parkes [2023] NSWCA 77

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Mt Owen Pty Ltd v Parkes [2023] NSWCA 77 Hearing dates: 3 March 2023 Date of orders: 26 April 2023 Decision date: 26 April 2023 Before: Brereton JA at [1]; Kirk JA at [25]; Basten AJA at [26] Decision: (1) In the appeal by Mt Owen Pty Ltd: (a) Dismiss the appeal from the judgment in the Common Law Division; (b) Order that the appellant pay the respondents' costs of the appeal. (2) In the cross-appeal by Titan Technicians Enterprise Pty Ltd: (a) Allow the cross-appeal; (b) Set aside orders 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 made in the Common Law Division on 15 July 2022; (c) Give judgment for Titan on Mr Parkes' claim against it; (d) Dismiss Titan's cross-claim against Mt Owen; (e) Order that Mt Owen pay the plaintiff's and Titan's costs in the Common Law Division; and (f) Order that Mt Owen pay Titan's and Mr Parkes' costs of the cross-appeal. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE – workplace injury – negligence of fellow worker conceded – vicarious liability – employee of labour hire company – employee working at premises of third party – whether host employer exercised control over negligent employee and work carried out – whether host employer vicariously liable DAMAGES – duty of care to worker – breach of duty – duty of employer – duty of third party on whose premises work carried out – whether legal employer negligent – apportionment of liability between legal employer and host employer – whether legal employer's non-delegable duty required apportion-ment of part of responsibility for injury to it Legislation Cited: Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), Pt 5, Div 5 Cases Cited: Day v The Ocean Beach Hotel Shellharbour Pty Ltd (2013) 85 NSWLR 335; [2013] NSWCA 250 Deutz Australia Pty Ltd v Skilled Engineering Ltd (2001) 162 FLR 173; [2001] VSC 194 DIB Group Pty Ltd t/as Hill & Co v Cole [2009] NSWCA 210; [2009] Aust Torts Rep 82-022 Estate of the Late M T Mutton v Howard Haulage Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 340 Hallmark Construction Pty Ltd v Brett Harford [2020] NSWCA 41 Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672; [1984] HCA 61 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Fox (2009) 240 CLR 1; [2009] HCA 35 McDonald v The Commonwealth (1945) 46 SR (NSW) 129 Mersey Docks and Harbour Board v Coggins and Griffith (Liverpool) Ltd [1947] AC 1 O'Connor v Commissioner for Government Transport (1954) 100 CLR 225; [1954] HCA 11 Oceanic Crest Shipping Co v Pilbara Harbour Services Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 626; [1986] HCA 34 State of New South Wales v Lepore (2003) 212 CLR 511; [2003] HCA 4 TNT Australia Pty Ltd v Christie (2003) 65 NSWLR 1; [2003] NSWCA 47 Top Hut Banoon Pastoral Co Pty Ltd v Walker [2021] NSWCA 296 Zuijs v Wirth Brothers Pty Ltd (1955) 93 CLR 561; [1955] HCA 73 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mt Owen Pty Limited (Appellant) Glen Matthew Parkes (First Respondent) Titan Technicians Enterprise Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: MT McCulloch SC / D Talintyre (Appellant) ID Roberts SC / RJM Foord (First Respondent) L King SC / H Chiu (Second Respondent)