Ward Enterprises Pty Limited v Ahern [2000] NSWCA 184

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Ward Enterprises Pty Limited v Ahern [2000] NSWCA 184 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40994/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 8 June 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 1 August 2000

PARTIES : R L & B A Ward Enterprises Pty Limited v Rae Ahern & TNT Management Pty Limited JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Meagher JA at 4; Clarke AJA at 25

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT 9904/97 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Cooper DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

Appellant: A.R. Ashburner COUNSEL : First respondent: L. King/J. Kernich Second respondent: J. Sharpe. Appellant: Ferguson Holz SOLICITORS : First respondent: Jones Staff & Co Second respondent: Ebsworth & Ebsworth CATCHWORDS : Negligence, apportionment, joint tortfeasors, death of employee, delay in bringing action, lapse of time from damage to judgement of 19.5 years, calculation of interest, s.94 Supreme Court Act is there a right to interest, return to workforce, financial benefit resulting from death. LEGISLATION CITED : s. 94 Supreme Court Act,, 1970. CASES CITED: Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672, Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Limited (1994) 179 CLR 520, Carroll v Purcell (1961) 107 CLR 73, Dominish v Astill (1979) 2 NSWLR 368. DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed in part; 2. Order 3 of the judgment of Cooper DCj dated 1 December 1998 set aside; 3. In lieu thereof, order that RL & BA Ward Enterprises Pty LImited contribute 15% and TNT Management Pty Limited contribute 85% of the plaintiff's damages and costs; 4. The appellant RL & BA Ward Enterprises Pty Limited should pay the costs of the first respondent, Rae Ahern in full, and the second repondent, TNT Management Pty Limited, indemnify the appellant as to one half its costs of the appeal