Keogh v CPB Contractors Pty Ltd & Ors (No 3) [2024] NSWDDT 10

Dust Diseases Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Keogh v CPB Contractors Pty Ltd & Ors (No 3) [2024] NSWDDT 10 Hearing dates: 30 September 2024 Date of orders: 9 October 2024 Decision date: 09 October 2024 Before: Russell SC DCJ Decision: (1) Dismiss the application made by the second defendant, and the first and third defendants in respect of their liability to the plaintiff as an employer in Queensland (the Applicants), for a variation of the existing costs orders. (2) Order the Applicants for the variation to pay the plaintiff's costs of and incidental to the application. Catchwords: DUST DISEASES – damages – defendant entitled to reduction of damages to reflect workers compensation benefits paid – issue not raised at trial – damages reduced to reflect totality of payment –amendment unnecessary because of parties' sensible solution COSTS – choice of law – whether costs are procedural or substantive law – power to make costs orders circumscribed by Queensland legislation – costs are a tool for courts to manage proceedings – costs are procedural – Queensland legislation fettering discretion over costs ineffective to bind courts in NSW – law of forum applies for costs Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 98, 99 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 12, 65 Statute of Gloucester (1278) 6 Edw I c 1 Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld), ss 39A, 185, 235, 270, 271, 275, 289, 292, 295, 306A, 306H, 316, Ch 5 Pt 5, Ch 5 Pt 6, Ch 5 Pt 8, Ch 5 Pt 12 Div 2 Dust Diseases Tribunal Regulation 2019 (NSW), Pt 5 Cases Cited: Chubs Constructions Pty Ltd v Chamma [2009] NSWCA 98 Cvilikas v Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service [2023] QSC 36 Hamilton v Merck & Co Inc [2006] NSWCA 55; (2006) 66 NSWLR 48 Hudson v Amaca Pty Ltd [2022] NSWDDT 6 John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson [2000] HCA 36; (2000) 203 CLR 503 Keogh v CPB Contractors Pty Ltd & Ors (No 2) [2024] NSWDDT 9 Labuda v Langford [2001] ACTSC 126 Northern Territory v Sangare [2019] HCA 25; (2019) 265 CLR 164 Peregrine Fixed Income Ltd v JP Morgan Chase Bank [2005] HKCFI 71 Preferential Trade Area Bank v ESCOM [2003] MWHC 74 Somers v Fournier (2002) 60 OR (3d) 225 (Ont CA) Tickner v Teys Australia Biloela Pty Ltd [2020] QSC 62 Union Discount Co Ltd v Zoller (2002) 1 All ER 693 (CA) Wimpey Construction (UK) Ltd v Martin Black & Co (Wire Ropes) Ltd [1988] SLT 637 Texts Cited: William Reynolds, "Legal Process and Choice of Law" (1997) 56 Maryland Law Review 1371 GE Dal Pont, Law of Costs (2003, 1st ed, LexisNexis) Richard Garnett, Substance and Procedure in Private International Law (2012, 1st ed, Oxford University Press) Sagi Peari, "Substance and Procedure in Private International Law by Richard Garnett" (2013) 14(1) Melbourne Journal of International Law 304 Richard Oppong, "A decade of Private International Law in African Courts 1997-2007 (Part I)", (2007) 9 Yearbook of Private International Law 223 Category: Costs Parties: Craig Andrew Keogh (Plaintiff) CPB Contractors Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Campbell Mining Services Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Downer EDI Mining Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Downer Mining Regional (NSW) Pty Ltd (Fifth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Tzouganatos/V Boutas (Plaintiff) A Schonell (First Defendant re Poitrel Mine) A Truce (Solicitor) (First Defendant re Moorvale Mine) A Schonell (Second Defendant re Moorvale Mine) A Schonell (Third Defendant re Blackwater Mine) J Sheller SC (Third Defendant re Boggabri Mine) T Rowles (Fifth Defendant re Boggabri Mine)