Telstra Corporation Limited v Albert John Rea [2002] NSWCA 49

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Telstra Corporation Limited v Albert John Rea [2002] NSWCA 49 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40244/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 10/12/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 March 2002

PARTIES : Telstra Corporation Limited (Appellant) Albert John Rea (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Foster AJA at 25; Einstein J at 44

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC6673/00 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Garling DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : JD Hislop QC, NE Chan (Appellant) KW Andrews (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Sparke Helmore (Appellant) Sowden Ackerman (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : Limitation of Action - Application for Extension - Appeal from granting of extension of time in which to commence action - Application for leave to extend limitation period in which to bring action pursuant to s 60G of Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) - Action for damages for injury relating to hearing loss suffered by respondent during employment with appellant - Whether respondent aware or ought to have become aware of connection between personal injury and appellant's acts or omissions - Whether requirements of s 601 of the Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) met - Whether actual or constructive knowledge of injury relevant - Imputation of knowledge - Whether extension of limitation period just and reasonable - Whether exercise of discretion miscarried Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Limitation (Amendment) Act 1990 (NSW). Suitors' Fund Act 1951 Barlow v Homebush Bay Development Corporation (unreported, 6 November 1995, NSWCA, CA 40695/93, BC 9501753) BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Limited v Lakovski (unreported, 24 November 2000, NSWCA, CA 40065/99, BC 200007381) Commonwealth v McLean (1996) 41 NSWLR 389 Council of the Shire of Sutherland v McNeilly (unreported, 12 December 1994, NSWCA, BC 9405011) CRA Limited v Martignago (1996) 39 NSWLR 13 CSR Limited & NSW Sugar Milling Co-Op Ltd v Rendell (unreported, 7 August 1996, NSWCA, CA40090/96, BC 9603437) Dedousis v The Water Board (1994) 181 CLR 171 Dedousis v The Water Board (1993) AustTortsR 81-233 Deming No 456 Pty Ltd v Brisbane Unit Development Corporation Pty Ltd (1983) 155 CLR 129 CASES CITED: Do Carmo v Ford Excavations Pty Limited (1983-1984) 154 CLR 234. Drayton Coal Pty Ltd v Drain, Court of Appeal, (unreported, 22 August 1995, NSWCA, BC9505244) Ford Excavations v Do Carmo [1981] 2 NSWLR 253 Harris v Commercial Minerals Limited (1996) 186 CLR 1 Holt v Wynter (2000) 49 NSWLR 128 Kinzett v McCourt & Ors (1999) 46 NSWLR 32 (unreported, 9 February 1999, CA NSW, CA 40773/96) Milne v International Combustion Australia Ltd [1953] WCR 80 Nominal Defendant v Manning (2000) 50 NSWLR 139 Sharp v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (unreported, 8 November 1995, NSWCA, CA 40393/9, BC 9501613) Smith v. Central Asbestos Co. [1973] AC 518 Spadotto & Company Pty Limited (in liq) v Raber (unreported, 27 October 1995, NSWCA, CA 40425/95, BC 9501698) DECISION : 1.Grant leave to appeal; 2. Appeal dismissed with costs.