Schneider v State of New South Wales [2009] NSWDC 108

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Schneider v State of New South Wales [2009] NSWDC 108

HEARING DATE(S): 11, 12, 13, 14, 19 November 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 16 October 2009

JURISDICTION: Civil

JUDGMENT OF: Levy SC DCJ

1. Verdict for the plaintiff; 2. Damages are assessed in the sum of $1,204,371; 3. After applying a discount of 35 per cent to reflect the findings made pursuant to s 151Z(2) of the Workers' Compensation Act 1987 the plaintiff's verdict is adjusted to the sum of $782,841; DECISION: 4. Judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $750,000; 5. The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs; 6. The exhibits may be returned; 7. Liberty to apply on 7 days notice if further orders are required, including any application by the plaintiff to have the amount of the judgment varied to an amount beyond $750,000, pursuant to s 51(2)(b) of the District Court Act 1973 by reason of s 51(4) of that Act.

CATCHWORDS: TORTS – negligence – occupier's liability – workplace injury – school cleaner employed by contract cleaner engaged by defendant occupier to clean school – plaintiff required to walk through school playground in darkness in order to access workplace – plaintiff fell into an open drainage pit left uncovered by vandals – whether negligence established – whether contributory negligence established – whether non-party employer would be liable if sued – s 151Z(2) fault calculus - DAMAGES– assessment of multiple heads of damage

Civil Liability Act 2002 LEGISLATION CITED: Crown Proceedings Act 1988 Workers' Compensation Act 1987

Adelaide Stevedoring Co Ltd v Forst [1940] HCA 45; (1940) 64 CLR 538 Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd v Luna [1969] HCA 66; (1969) 123 CLR 305 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna [1987] HCA 7; (1987) 162 CLR 479 Commissioner of Police v Rea [2008] NSWCA 199 Container Terminals Australia Ltd v Huseyin [2008] NSWCA 320 Czatyrko v Edith Cowan University [2005] HCA 14; (2005) 214 ALR 349 Ghunaim v Bart [2004] NSWCA 28 Golden Eagle International Trading Pty Ltd & Anor v Zhang & Anor [2007] HCA 15; (2007) 229 CLR 498 Hackshaw v Shaw [1984] HCA 84 J Blackwood & Son v Skilled Engineering [2008] NSWCA 142 J Blackwood & Son Steel & Metals Pty Ltd v Nichols & Anor [2007] NSWCA 157 CASES CITED: Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Mason v Demasi [2009] NSWCA 227 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; 205 CLR 254 Papatonakis v Australian Telecommunications Commission & Anor [1985] HCA 3; (1985) 156 CLR 7 Purkess v Crittenden [1965] HCA 34; (1965) 114 CLR 164 Stannus v Graham (1994) Aust Torts Reports 81-293 State of New South Wales v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133 Stevens v Broddribb Sawmilling Company Pty Ltd [1986] HCA 1; (1986) 160 CLR 16 Stretenovic v Reed [2009] NSWCA 280 Strinic v Singh [2009] NSWCA 15 Tarabay v Liete [2008] NSWCA 259 Watts v Rake [1960] HCA 58; (1960) 108 CLR 158 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40