Farrell v Metromix Pty Limited [2001] NSWCA 166

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Farrell v Metromix Pty Limited [2001] NSWCA 166 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40199/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 29 May 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 8 June 2001

PARTIES : John Farrell v Metromix Pty Limited JUDGMENT OF : Stein JA at 1; Hodgson JA at 33; Ipp AJA at 34

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Compensation Court LOWER COURT CC 33608/98 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Moran CCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Appellant - L King SC/D T Kell Respondent - C Hoeben SC/D Priestley SOLICITORS : Appellant - W G McNally & Co Respondent - Sparke Helmore CATCHWORDS : WORKERS COMPENSATION - The Worker's Compensation Act 1987 - exercise of discretion imposed by s 40(1) - whether non injury factors can be taken into account when determining loss of earning capacity - ND LEGISLATION CITED : Worker's Compensation Act 1987 Australian Iron and Steel v Elliott (1966) 67 SR (NSW) 87 Australian Wheat Board v Pantaleo (1984) 3 NSWLR 350 Australian Wire Industries Limited v Nicholson (Unreported, Court of Appeal, 4 February 1985) CASES CITED: J C Ludowici & Son Pty Limited v Cutri (1992) 26 NSWLR 580 Kesen v Luke Singer Pty Ltd (1989) 18 NSWLR 566 Kraturn Pty Limited v Quinn (1990) 6 NSWCCR 326 Malco Engineering v Ferreira (1994) 10 NSWLR 117 Mitchell v Central West Health Service [1997] 14 NSWCCR 527 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed with costs. 2. Award of weekly compensation under s 40 of the Worker's Compensation Act 1987 set aside. 3. There be substituted therefor an award in favour of the appellant pursuant to s 40 of the Act of $75 per week from 15 July 1997 to 11 June 1999. 4. The issue of the amount of weekly compensation payable post 11 June 1999 be remitted to the Compensation Court for determination according to law.