The State of New South Wales (Government Cleaning Service) v Les Cooper [2000] NSWCA 148

Reported Decision : 49 NSWLR 221

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : The State of New South Wales (Government Cleaning Service) v Les Cooper [2000] NSWCA 148 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40003/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 18 May 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 June 2000

PARTIES : The State of New South Wales (Government Cleaning Service) (Appellant) Les Cooper (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Powell JA at 2; Stein JA at 3

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 100230/96 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Armitage DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : L King SC/M J Jenkins (Appellant) J Poulos QC/M A Barko (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Rankin & Nathan Solicitors (Appellant) Henry Davis York Lawyers (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : WORKERS COMPENSATION - statutory right of indemnity - entitlement to statutory interest - D District Court Act 1973, s 83A(1) LEGISLATION CITED : Motor Accidents Act 1988, s 73(1) Workers Compensation Act 1926, s 64(1)(b) Workers Compensation Act 1987, s 151Z(1)(d) Grant v Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney (1999) 47 NSWLR 263 CASES CITED: Howard Rotavator Pty Ltd v Wilson (1987) 8 NSWLR 498 Kwanchi Pty Ltd v Kocsis (1996) 40 NSWLR 270 Westpac v Tomassian (1993) 32 NSWLR 207 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed; 2. Respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal but have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 if qualified; 3. In lieu of the parties agreeing within 21 days as to the amount of interest, remit the matter to the trial judge to determine the award of interest according to law