State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Gudgeon [2000] NSWCA 165

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Gudgeon [2000] NSWCA 165 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41051/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 11 May 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 7 August 2000

PARTIES : State Rail Authority of New South Wales (Appellant) Ronald Gudgeon (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Handley JA at 2; Stein JA at 9

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 4916/97 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Blanch CJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : J D Hislop QC/ D J Brogan (Appellant) P Webb QC/K W Andrews (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Astridge & Murray (Appellant) Sowden Akerman (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - industrial deafness - independent contractor - deemed employment - duty of principal to contractor - direction by principal - co-ordination by principal - organisation by principal - interdependence between operation of the principal and activities of contractor - safe system of work - supervision - vulnerability to injury - ND LEGISLATION CITED : Workers Compensation Act 1987 Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee (1999) 74 ALJR 1 Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 73 ALJR 1190 CASES CITED: Pyrenees Shire Council v Day (1998) 192 CLR 330 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Company Pty Ltd (1985 - 1986) 160 CLR 16 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 DECISION : Appeal allowed with costs. Verdict and judgment entered by the District Court set aside. Respondent to receive a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951, if otherwise qualified.