Synergy Scaffolding Services Pty Ltd v Alelaimat [2023] NSWCA 213

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Synergy Scaffolding Services Pty Ltd v Alelaimat [2023] NSWCA 213 Hearing dates: 11 November 2022 Date of orders: Not applicable Decision date: 07 September 2023 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Kirk JA at [2]; Simpson AJA at [3] Decision: 1. Direct the appellant and the second respondent to notify, within 3 days of publication of these reasons, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority of these reasons and proposed orders. 2. Direct the parties to the proceedings to provide any further submissions on which they wish to rely on or before 29 September 2023. 3. Orders otherwise to be advised. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE — breach of duty of care — non-delegable duty of care — employer and employee — labour-hire company — where services of employee contracted out — contractor failed to provide a safe system of work — relevance of steps by employer to ensure that the contractor instituted a safe system of work — relevance of opportunity for employer to intervene to prevent injury WORKERS COMPENSATION — common law remedies — Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) s 151Z — adjustment of damages under s 151Z(2)(c) — whether employer able to claim recovery of compensation payments from third party tortfeasor under s 151Z(1)(d) in circumstances where employer was joint tortfeasor — construction of s 151Z(2)(e) — whether worker "does not accept satisfaction of the judgment against that employer" — whether s 151A applies — liability of worker to repay compensation out of damages under s 151Z(1)(b) TORTS — joint and several liability — contribution —Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) s 5 — "just and equitable" — onus of proof — claim by tortfeasor against injured worker's employer — where employer also a tortfeasor — where no evidence of responsibility of employer for injury suffered by employee — no contribution ordered LIMITATION OF ACTIONS — torts — personal injury — Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) s 50C, s 50D — 3 year post discoverability limitation period — whether cause of action discoverable — where plaintiff unaware of true employer — where legal advisers advised a claim for workers compensation, but not common law damages — whether plaintiff knew the fact that the injury was caused by the fault of the defendant — whether plaintiff knew the fact that the injury was sufficiently serious to justifying the bringing of an action on the cause of action WORDS AND PHRASES — Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) s 50D — "know" — "fact" Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) ss 5B, 5D, 5Q Civil Liability (Third Party Claims Against Insurers) Act 2017 (NSW) s 4 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 601AG Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) s 5 Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) ss 50C, 50D Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 75A Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 151A, 151Z Cases Cited: A V Jennings Construction Pty Ltd v Maumill (1956) 30 ALJ 100 Abdulle v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd [2010] NSWCA 6 Adams v Fletcher International Exports Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 238 Alelaimat v Synergy Scaffolding Services (No 3) [2022] NSWSC 536 Andar Transport Pty Ltd v Brambles Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 424; [2004] HCA 28 Atkinson v Gameco [2005] NSWCA 325 Baden Cranes Pty Ltd v Smith [2013] NSWCA 136 Baker-Morrison v State of New South Wales (2009) 74 NSWLR 454; [2009] NSWCA 35 Brambles v Wail [2002] VSCA 150 CSR Timber Products Pty Ltd v Weathertex Pty Ltd (2013) 83 NSWLR 433; [2013] NSWCA 49 Dib Group Pty Ltd Trading as Hill & Co v Cole [2009] NSWCA 210 Endeavour Energy v Precision Helicopters Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] NSWCA 357 Estate of the late M T Mutton v Howard Haulage Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 340 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Frizelle v Bauer [2009] NSWCA 239 Galea v Bagtrans Pty Limited [2010] NSWCA 350 Hossain v Unity Grammar College Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1313 Humphries v Shoalhaven City Council [2012] NSWDC 216 Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672; [1984] HCA 61 Lee v Lee (2019) 266 CLR 129; [2019] HCA 28 Leonard v Smith (1992) 27 NSWLR 5 Murgolo v AAI Ltd (t/as AAMI) (2019) 101 NSWLR 376; [2019] NSWCA 295 Pollard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 99 Pomare v Whyte [2019] NSWCA 317; 377 ALR 352 Prince Alfred College Incorporated v ADC (2016) 258 CLR 134; [2016] HCA 37 Public Transport Commission of New South Wales v J Murray-More (NSW) Pty Ltd (1975) 132 CLR 336; [1975] HCA 28 Robinson Helicopter Co Inc v McDermott [2016] HCA 22 Scott v Davis (2000) 204 CLR 333; [2000] HCA 52 Shoalhaven City Council v Humphries [2013] NSWCA 390 Smith v Commonwealth Oil Refineries Ltd (1938) 60 CLR 141; [1938] HCA 33 South West Helicopters Pty Ltd v Stephenson (2017) 98 NSWLR 1; [2017] NSWCA 312 State of New South Wales v Gillett [2012] NSWCA 83 TNT Australia Pty Ltd v Christie (2003) 65 NSWLR 1; [2003] NSWCA 47 Vines v Djordjevitch (1955) 91 CLR 512; [1995] HCA 19 Vinidex Tubemakers Pty Limited v Thiess Contractors Pty Limited [2000] NSWCA 67 Watson v The Council of the City of Newcastle (1962) 106 CLR 426; [1962] HCA 6 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40; [1980] HCA 12 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Synergy Scaffolding Services Pty Ltd (Appellant) Bilal Alelaimat (1st Respondent) Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer (2nd Respondent) Representation: Counsel: DA Priestley SC/D Southwood (Appellant) D Toomey SC/D Morgan (1st Respondent) PA Rickard (2nd Respondent)