Burnett v Manhattan Homes Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 1431

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Burnett v Manhattan Homes Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 1431 Hearing dates: 26 - 29 June, 9 August, 29 September and 27 October 2023 Date of orders: 24 November 2023 Decision date: 24 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Schmidt AJ Decision: 1 Judgment for Mr Burnett against Manhattan Homes Pty Ltd. 2 The parties are directed to confer about the final calculations, the terms of the final orders including as to costs and to file proposed orders within 14 days. In the event of any remaining dispute, they should also approach within 14 days and file and serve an outline of submissions addressing that dispute. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE — duty of care — reasonable foreseeability of harm — construction site — plaintiff fell three metres from first story to ground below —statutory notification of incident under Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), ss 19, 35, 38 — whether notification was an admission under Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 82 — whether defect in void protection known — whether plaintiff's use of uncompleted stairs reasonably foreseeable — whether risk of fall and resulting harm reasonably foreseeable — breach of duty established NEGLIGENCE — liability — occupier and subcontractor — duty to exercise reasonable care in relation to safety of building site and to persons coming onto site to avoid foreseeable physical injury — causation — whether injury the result of unauthorised acts of contractor — occupier liable NEGLIGENCE — liability — employer and employee — plaintiff sole director and employee of second defendant — where plaintiff knew of defect in void protection — second defendant's breach of non-delegable duty of care to plaintiff as employee established — whether plaintiff also negligent or his actions resulted from inadvertence — inadvertence established NEGLIGENCE — contributory negligence — not established where plaintiff's actions the result of inadvertence CIVIL PROCEDURE — cross-claims — contribution or indemnity between defendants — Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5(1)(c) — Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151Z Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5R, 5S, 1, 13, 15, 16, Div 8 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 69, 81, 82, 87, 136 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), ss 19, 35, 38, 39 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151Z Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), s 4 Cases Cited: Amante v R [2020] NSWCCA 34 Andar Transport Pty Ltd v Brambles Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 424; [2004] HCA 28 Blacktown City Council v Hocking [2008] NSWCA 144 Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v Cosmidis; Boral Bricks Pty Ltd v DM & BP Wiskich Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 443 Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 520; [1994] HCA 13 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Limited v Haleluka [2012] NSWCA 343 Commonwealth of Australia v Helicopter Resources Pty Ltd (2020) 270 CLR 523; [2020] HCA 16 Donald v McKeown [2004] NSWCA 285 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Fox v Wood (1981) 148 CLR 438; [1981] HCA 41 Gestmin SGPS SA v Credit Suisse (UK) Limited [2013] EWHC 3560 (Comm) Graham v Baker (1961) 106 CLR 340; [1961] HCA 48 Holland v Jones (1917) 23 CLR 149; [1917] HCA 26 Husher v Husher (1999) 197 CLR 138; [1999] HCA 47 Ilvariy Pty Ltd v Sijuk [2011] NSWCA 12 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Jones v The Queen (1997) 191 CLR 439; [1997] HCA 56 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; [1990] HCA 20 McLean v Tedman (1984) 155 CLR 306; [1984] HCA 60 Mead v Kerney [2012] NSWCA 215 Miller v Galderisi [2009] NSWCA 353 Nominal Defendant v Livaja [2011] NSWCA 121 Onassis and Calogeropoulos v Vergottis [1968] 2 Lloyd's Rep 403 Parkview Constructions Pty Ltd v Abrahim [2013] NSWCA 460 Plomp v The Queen (1963) 110 CLR 234; [1963] HCA 44 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Limited [1985] HCA 34; (1985) 59 ALJR 492 Rabay & Anor v Bristow [2005] NSWCA 199 RHG Mortgage Limited v Rosario Ianni [2015] NSWCA 56 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer (2007) 234 CLR 330; [2007] HCA 42 South Western Sydney Local Health District v Sorbello [2017] NSWCA 201 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (in liq) [1999] HCA 3; (1999) 73 ALJR 306 Stevens v Broadribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16; [1986] HCA 1 Sungravure Ply Ltd v Meani (1964) 110 CLR 24; [1964] HCA 16 The Nominal Defendant v Cordin (2017) 79 MVR 210; [2017] NSWCA 6 The Nominal Defendant v Lane [2004] NSWCA 405 The Queen v Hillier (2007) 228 CLR 618; [2007] HCA 13 The Queen v Keenan (2009) 236 CLR 397; [2009] HCA 1 Todorovic v Waller (1981) 150 CLR 402; [1981] HCA 72 Verryt v Schoupp [2015] NSWCA 128 Wallace v Kam (2013) 250 CLR 375; [2013] HCA 19 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Texts Cited: Harold Luntz, Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury and Death (4th ed, 2002, Butterworths) Safe Work Australia, Construction work: Code of Practice, (May 2018) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gary Burnett (Plaintiff) Manhattan Homes Pty Ltd (First Defendant) The Griswold's Outdoor Xmas Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R Sheldon SC and E Welsh (Plaintiff) J Sleight (First Defendant) I Todd (Second Defendant)