Clarke v GEO Australia Pty Limited [2023] NSWSC 716

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Clarke v GEO Australia Pty Limited [2023] NSWSC 716 Hearing dates: 02 March 2023 Decision date: 27 June 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) Leave be granted to the plaintiff to file and serve a Second Further Amended Statement of Claim within 4 weeks of the date of this judgment. (2) Leave be granted to each defendant, to the extent advised, to file and serve a Defence to any Second Further Amended Statement of Claim within a period of 28 days after service. (3) The Motion, notice of which was filed by the first defendant on 19 September 2022, is dismissed. (4) The first defendant shall pay the plaintiff's costs of and incidental to the Motion. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – pleadings – personal injury – Motion to dismiss proceedings or strike out Statement of Claim – whether cause of action disclosed – whether material facts pleaded – except in relation to knowledge of risk Motion dismissed – leave granted to replead minor deficiency Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B(2), 5C(b) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56(1) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 13.4, 14.28 Work Health & Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Worker's Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151D Cases Cited: Brimson v Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd [1982] 2 NSWLR 937 Cox v Journeaux (No 2) (1935) 52 CLR 713; [1935] HCA 48 Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658; [1982] HCA 70 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Fox (2009) 240 CLR 1; [2009] HCA 35 McGuirk v University of New South Wales [2009] NSWSC 1424 Medica Pty Ltd v Khedrlarian [2020] NSWCA 288 Moussa v Camden Council (2022) 162 ACSR 586 [2022] NSWSC 913 Mutual Life & Citizens' Assurance Co Ltd v Evatt (1968) 122 CLR 556; [1968] HCA 74 PAO v Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Sydney [2011] NSWSC 1216 Penrith City Council v East Realisations Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 67 PWJ1 v The State of New South Wales [2020] NSWSC 1235 Richmond City Council v JLT Risk Solutions Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1761 Sanders-Pattinson v Brown [2012] NSWSC 443 Sergienko v AXL Financial Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1610 Tapp v Australian Bushmen's Campdraft & Rodeo Association Limited (2002) 96 ALJR 337; [2022] HCA 11 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Miller; Miller v Lithgow City Council (2015) 91 NSWLR 752; [2015] NSWCA 320 Wentworth v Rogers (No 5) (1986) 6 NSWLR 534 Wickstead v Browne (1992) 30 NSWLR 1; [1992] NSWCA 272 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Anthony Clarke (Plaintiff) GEO Australia Pty Limited (First Defendant) State of New South Wales (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Toomey SC / D Morgan (Plaintiff) A Cheshire SC (First Defendant) B Rickard (Second Defendant)