Itek Graphix Pty Limited v Elliott [2001] NSWCA 442

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Itek Graphix Pty Limited v Elliott [2001] NSWCA 442 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40069/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 09/11/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 11 February 2002

PARTIES : Itek Graphix Pty Limited v Ann Elliott JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Sheller JA at 2; Ipp AJA at 6

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT 1825/99; 426/00 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Patten DCJ; Graham DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : L King SC/R S Sheldon (Appellant) S Norton SC/A Healey (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Leigh Virtue & Associates (Appellant) Brydens Law Office (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : WORKERS COMPENSATION - limitation period - extension of time - scope of discretion - test for reasonableness of delay - conduct of applicant for leave - fully informed decision to allow statutory period to expire - Workers Compensation Act, s 151D(2) - APPEAL - interlocutory appeal capable of disposing of entire case - time when appeal should be heard - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - decision to dispense with jury - decision within discretion - District Court Act 1973, s 79A. D Workers Compensation Act 1987 Motor Accidents Act 1988 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 LEGISLATION CITED : Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) District Court Act 1973 District Court Rules 1973 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541 Salido v Nominal Defendant (1993) 32 NSWLR 524 Holt v Wynter (2000) 49 NSWLR 128 Parsons v Doukas [2001] NSWCA 128 Re Commonwealth of Australia; Ex Parte Marks (2000) 75 ALJR 470 Mason v Murray's Charter Coaches & Travel Services Pty Limited (1998) 159 ALR 45 Australian Croatian Cultural and Educational Association "Braca Radici" Blacktown Limited v Benkovic (1999] NSWCA 210 FAI General Insurance Company Limited s v Southern Cross Exploration NL (1988) 165 CLR 286 Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v Davies [1996] 4 All ER 289 Gallo v Dawson (1990) 64 ALJR 458 South Western Sydney Area Health Service v Gabriel [2001] NSWCA 477 Nowlan v Marson Transport Pty Limited [2001] NSWCA 346 Malone v New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service [2001] NSWCA 345 Ratnam v Cumarasamy [1965] 1 WLR 8 Henricks v Agnew (1997) 26 MVR 277 Bartlett v Bartlett (2000) 170 ALR 25 Nominal Defendant v Manning (2000) 50 NSWLR 139 Girando v Girando (1997) 18 WAR 450 CASES CITED: Hoy v Honan [1997] QCA 250 Reid v Agco Australia Ltd [2000] VSC 363 Pomeroy v Thwaites Witham Pty Ltd 2001) 79 SASR 489 Menzies v Hoechst Australia Limited (1991) Aust Torts Reports 81-122 Hunter Valley Developments Pty Limited v Cohen (1984) 3 FCR 344 Clark v Robb (1994) 118 FLR 71 Knight v Smith [1975] Tas SR 83 Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd (1974) 131 CLR 634 Ramton v Cassin (1995) 38 NSWLR 88 Futuris Corporation Ltd v Exicom Ltd [1995) 18 ACSR 413 Wentworth v Wentworth (Unreported, NSWCA, 23 November 1995) Brambles Australia Limited v Hall (Unreported, NSWCA, 8 November 1995) Kessey v Golledge (1999) 30 MVR 95 Queensland v JL Holdings Pty Limited (1997) 189 CLR 146 Tamworth Base Hospital v Durant [2000] NSWCA 209 Clifton Bricks Pty Limited v Gerlach [2000] NSWCA 90 Department of Community Services v Dezsery [2000] NSWCA 196 Baxter v Obacelo Pty Limited (2000) 48 NSWLR 522 Baxter v Obacelo Pty Limited [2001] HCA 66 DECISION : See para 166.