Matthew Hall Pty Ltd v Smart [2000] NSWCA 284

Reported Decision : [2000] 21 NSWCCR 34

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Matthew Hall Pty Ltd v Smart [2000] NSWCA 284 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40847/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 3 October 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 23 October 2000

PARTIES : Matthew Hall Pty Ltd - Appellant Cameron Smart - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Powell JA at 2; Giles JA at 3

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Compensation Court LOWER COURT CC 17968/97 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Hughes CCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : H N Kelly - Appellant R I Goodridge - Respondent SOLICITORS : A O Ellison & Co - Appellant Firths - Respondent CATCHWORDS : WORKERS COMPENSATION - eye injury - whether condition at trial caused by injury - whether due in part to condition existing before injury - if so what deduction from s 66 compensation pursuant to s 68A Workers Compensation Act - held no pre-existing condition - no deduction - assessment of s 67 compensation at 50% of a most extreme case - whether question of fact or law - held in manner argued was question of fact. D. DEDUCTION PURSUANT TO S 60A: D'Aleo v Ambulance Service of New South Wales (NSWCA 12 March 1996, unreported); Government Cleaning Service v Ellul (1996) 13 NSW CCR 344. QUESTION OF LAW OR FACT: Attorney-General for the State of New South Wales v X (2000) NSWCA 199; LEGISLATION CITED : Australian Gas Light Co v Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126; Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR139; Brutus v Cozens (1973) AC 854; Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528; Dennis v Watt (1932) SR (NSW) 32; Galley v Pasminco Mining Ltd (1993) 9 NSWCCR 288; Hope v Bathurst City Council (1980) 144 CLR 1. DECISION : Leave to file amended notice of appeal granted. Appeal allowed in part, order for payment of interest set aside, appeal otherwise dismissed. Appellant to pay respondent's costs of the appeal.