PETER WARREN (FAIRFIELD) PTY LTD v McMARTIN [1995] NSWCA 367
NSW Caselaw
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PETER WARREN (FAIRFIELD) PTY LTD v McMARTIN
SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES — COURT OF APPEAL
COLE JA
24 July 1995
[1995] NSWCA 367
Cole JA. In this matter the claimant seeks leave to file a notice of motion out
of time. The matter arises in this way: On 8 June 1995 his Honour Judge
Armitage made a determination that there had not been an election, which would
have the effect of prohibiting worker's compensation proceedings, by the filing
of a particular statement of claim. On 20 June the solicitor for the appellant, Peter
Warren (Fairfield) Pty Limited, received advice from counsel that consideration
should be given to lodging an appeal against that decision. The determination by
Judge Armitage constitutes an award within the meaning of section 31 of the
Workers" Compensation Court Act. Therefore, there is an appeal as or right to
this Court.
The prospective appellant had until 6 July 1995 to lodge that appeal. The
failure to lodge the appeal in time was due, according to the affidavit of David
James Farrell, to an oversight on the part of the solicitors acting for the
prospective appellants, that oversight being due in major part to the circumstance
that his firm moved offices on 30 June and 1 July 1995. In addition there was a
delay of some eight or nine days after receipt of advice on 20 June to seek a copy
of the transcript of the reasons for judgment of his HonourJudge Armitage. As of
today the transcript of that judgment has not yet been received by either party.
Application by way of summons to file the notice of appeal out of time was filed
on 13 July 1995, that is some seven days after the expiration of the time within
which a notice of appeal could have been filed without leave.
The application is opposed on three bases. The first is that the provisions of
Part 51 rule 4 subrule 5 provided that a party applying to the Court of Appeal for
an extension of time under subrules | or 2 should lodge a draft, completed as far
as possible, of the notice of appeal to be filed if an extended time is fixed. That
has not been done. The point desired to be raised on appeal is a point of law and
is well understood, and whilst it may be desirable to have the reasons for
judgment available before settling a nature of appeal, it does seem tolerably clear
a notice of appeal could have been provided. That has not been done and in one
sense that rule cannot now be complied with because it requires the document to
be lodged with the notice of motion.
This Court has the power to dispense with compliance with that rule. I have
been informed by counsel that the failure to draft that draft notice of appeal was
due to his oversight.
The second objection to the motion is delay. I have already referred to the
extent of that delay.
The third is that the worker may suffer some prejudice because the application
for compensation has been adjourned until August. That prejudice flows, if at all,
only from the seven days" delay to which I have referred.
2 UNREPORTED JUDGMENTS
In the circumstances I dispense with compliance of the provisions of Part 51
rule 4 subrule 5. I extend the time for filing a notice of appeal until Wednesday
26 July 1995. Idirect that the notice of appeal be filed within that time if the
appeal is to be proceeded with. I direct that the claimant pay the respondent's
costs of this motion.
Orders accordingly.
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