Agrigrain Pty Ltd v Rindfleish [2024] NSWCA 295

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Agrigrain Pty Ltd v Rindfleish [2024] NSWCA 295 Hearing dates: 17 June 2024 Date of orders: 09 December 2024 Decision date: 09 December 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; Kirk JA at [2]; Stern JA at [134] Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) The appellant is to pay the respondent's costs. Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW – Contract terms – Which of two entities in same corporate group is true employer of respondent – What reasonable person in position of all persons potentially party to contract would understand as to which entity was party as employer – Post-contract conduct relevant where contract unwritten – Factors still relevant in employee/independent contractor characterisation context may shed some light on issue – Question of control and direction significant though not definitive CIVIL PROCEDURE – Pleadings – Admission contrary to subsequent argument not withdrawn – Pleadings and particulars define issues for decision – Primary judge entitled to determine issue based on admission LIMITATIONS OF ACTIONS – Discoverability – Personal injury – Knowledge of fault of defendant – When plaintiff "ought to know" facts – No requirement that plaintiff knows capacity in which putative defendant might be liable – Reasonable steps to be taken by plaintiff, not plaintiff's lawyers – Lawyers' omissions not to rebound on plaintiff where he had taken all reasonable steps NEGLIGENCE – Damages – Non-economic loss, future economic loss for loss of earning capacity, future out-of-pocket expenses, past gratuitous domestic assistance Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 16(1) Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), Pt 2, Div 6 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 51.18(1)(e) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 2A, Pt 5 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), ss 4(1), 250(2) Cases Cited: Baggs v University of Sydney Union [2013] NSWCA 451 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd [2022] HCA 1; (2022) 275 CLR 165 Dare v Pulham [1982] HCA 70; (1982) 148 CLR 658 Equuscorp Pty Ltd v Glengallan Investments Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 55; (2004) 218 CLR 471 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Lawrence v Ciantar [2020] NSWCA 89 Lee v Lee [2019] HCA 28; (2019) 266 CLR 129 Murgolo v AAI Ltd [2019] NSWCA 295 Pitcher v Langford (1991) 23 NSWLR 142 Ramsey v Denton [2021] NSWCA 310; (2021) 98 MVR 340 Realestate.com.au Pty Ltd v Hardingham [2022] HCA 39; (2022) 277 CLR 115 Resilient Investment Group Pty Ltd v Barnet [2023] NSWCA 118; (2023) 111 NSWLR 446 Russell v J Hargreaves & Sons Pty Ltd (1956) 30 ALJR 533 Shaw v Bindaree Beef Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 125 Sinclair v Balanian [2024] NSWCA 144; (2024) 114 NSWLR 248 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd [1986] HCA 1; (1986) 160 CLR 16 Synergy Scaffolding Services Pty Ltd v Alelaimat [2023] NSWCA 213; (2023) 326 IR 289 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; (2004) 219 CLR 165 White v Redding [2019] NSWCA 152; (2019) 99 NSWLR 605 WorkPac Pty Ltd v Rossato [2021] HCA 23; (2021) 271 CLR 456 ZG Operations Australia Pty Ltd v Jamsek [2022] HCA 2; (2022) 275 CLR 254 Texts Cited: GE Dal Pont, Law of Limitation (2nd ed, 2021, LexisNexis) Ian Neil, David Chin and Christopher Parkin, The Modern Contract of Employment (3rd ed, 2023, Lawbook) NC Seddon and RA Bigwood, Cheshire & Fifoot Law of Contract (12th ed, 2023, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Agrigrain Pty Ltd (Appellant) Ian Rindfleish (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: MA Friedgut / M Meares (Appellant) B Dooley SC / K Balendra (Respondent)