Coca-Cola Europacific Partners API Pty Ltd v Pombinho [2024] NSWCA 191

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners API Pty Ltd v Pombinho [2024] NSWCA 191 Hearing dates: 25 June 2024 Date of orders: 1 August 2024 Decision date: 01 August 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; White JA at [90]; Stern JA at [91] Decision: 1. The appeal be allowed. 2. Set aside the orders made by Rothman J on 12 December 2023. 3. In lieu thereof, dismiss the Amended Summons filed on 11 May 2023. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Judicial review – Whether primary judge erred in finding jurisdictional error and error of law – Failure of medical assessor to assess relevant material and make deduction based on previous injury – Whether Medical Appeal Panel of the Personal Injury Commission exceeded scope of grounds of appeal – Whether assessment de novo within grounds of appeal Legislation Cited: Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 32A, 38, 52, 59A, 65A, 66, 151H Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), ss 322, 323, 324, 327, 328, 376 Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Rutland (2015) 73 MVR 211; [2015] NSWCA 328 Marks v Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice (No 2) [2021] NSWSC 616 New South Wales Police Force v Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission of New South Wales [2013] NSWSC 1792 Oertel v Crocker (1947) 75 CLR 261; [1947] HCA 40 Pitsonis v Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission (2008) 73 NSWLR 366; [2008] NSWCA 88 Pombinho v Coca-Cola Europacific Partners API Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 1536 Queanbeyan Racing Club Ltd v Burton [2021] NSWCA 304 Texts Cited: Explanatory Note to the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (NSW) NSW Workers Compensation Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fourth Edition, 1 April 2016 (reissued 1 March 2021) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners API Pty Ltd (Appellant) Luis Pombinho (First Respondent) The President of the Personal Injury Commission of New South Wales (Second Respondent) Carolyn Rimmer, Michael Hong and Nicholas Glozier as an Appeal Panel constituted under s 328 of the Workplace Injury Management (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Herzfeld SC with L Robison (Appellant) B McManamey (First Respondent) Solicitors: HWL Ebsworth Lawyers (Appellant) Law Partners (First Respondent) The Crown Solicitor for NSW (Second Respondent) File Number(s): 2024/00001601 Publication restriction: Nil Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Supreme Court of New South Wales Jurisdiction: Common Law Division Citation: [2023] NSWSC 1536 Date of Decision: 12 December 2023 Before: Rothman J File Number(s): 2023/00127112