LOLOMANAIA v. ROADS & TRAFFIC AUTHORITY [2000] NSWSC 412

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : LOLOMANAIA v. ROADS & TRAFFIC AUTHORITY [2000] NSWSC 412 revised - 19/07/2000 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Civil FILE NUMBER(S) : SC No. 11135 of 1990 HEARING DATE(S) : 20.7.99 - 30.7.99; 8.10.99 JUDGMENT DATE : 19 May 2000

PARTIES : KEPUELI TAUFUI LOLOMANAIA v. THE ROADS & TRAFFIC AUTHORITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES JUDGMENT OF : Greg James J at 1

COUNSEL : Plaintiff: J. Coombs, QC./W. Washington/P.J. Doherty Defendant: D. Nock, SC./S. Torrington SOLICITORS : Plaintiff: Bond & Bond Defendant: Hunt & Hunt CATCHWORDS : Common law damages - unsafe system of work - causation - common sense approach - differing medical evidence - application of principle in Papadopoulos v. NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation [1999] NSWCA 116 - possible dissection of disabilities due to different accidents - effect of Workers Compensation award for later unrelated injury. LEGISLATION CITED : Workers Compensation Act 1926 Workers Compensation Act 1987 March v. Stramare Pty. Limited (1991) 171 CLR 506 Papadopoulos v. NSW Insurance Ministerial Corporation [1999] NSWCA 116 State Government Insurance Commission v. Oakley (1999) ATR 81-003 at 675 Watts v. Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158 Purkess v. Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164 Caltex Tanker Co. (Aust.) Pty. Limited v. Kerr [1999] NSWCA 115 CASES CITED : Franklins Self-Serve Pty. Limited v. Wyber [1999] NSWCA 390 Kessey v. Gollege [1999] NSWCA 424 Rogers (1994) 181 CLR 251 Van Raymer Pty. Limited t/as Bathurst Funeral & Cremation Services v. Higgins (1991) 24 NSWLR 661 Manser v. Spry (1994) 181 CLR 428 Thackham v. Kempsey District Hospital (1995) 36 NSWLR 492 Ipec Industries v. Dwight (Court of Appeal, unreported 23 October 1997) Tipper v. Williams (Court of Appeal, unreported 6 May 1994) DECISION : Judgment for the plaintiff