Babcock International Limited v Babcock Australia Limited & Eraring Energy; Babcock Australia Limited v Eraring Energy & Babcock International Limited [2003] NSWCA 6

Reported Decision : (2002) 56 NSWLR 51 (2003) Aust Torts Reports 81-689

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Babcock International Limited v Babcock Australia Limited & Eraring Energy; Babcock Australia Limited v Eraring Energy & Babcock International Limited [2003] NSWCA 6 HEARING DATE(S) : 09/12/02, 10/12/02,11/12/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 February 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Heydon JA at 2; Ipp JA at 3 DECISION : See paragraphs 159 to 166

CATCHWORDS : TORT - Duty of care of designers of works, suppliers, contractors and employers to employees exposed to asbestos - Contribution proceedings under s 5 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 - Claim for damages by one joint tortfeasor in direct action for damages against other joint tortfeasor for amount first tortfeasor required by contribution proceedings to pay plaintiff - Pure economic loss - Damages representing the costs incurred in defending a third party claim - Apportionment of liability under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 - Knowledge of statutory corporations - Right of appeal from the Dust Diseases Tribunal. D Electricity Commission Act 1950, ss 5(1)(b), 6(1), 7 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946, s 5 LEGISLATION CITED : Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965, s 9 Dust Diseases Tribunal Act 1989, ss 25B(1), 32(1) Hydro-Electric Commission Act 1944 (Tas) Factory and Work Shop Act 1901 (UK), s 79 Ambulance Service of New South Wales v Daniel [2000] NSWCA 116 Azzopardi v Tasman UEV Industries Limited (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 CSR Limited v Wren (1997) 44 NSWLR 463 Daniels v Anderson (1995) 37 NSWLR 438 Dein v Wentworth Goldfield Proprietary Company (1899) 15 WN(NSW) Doyle v Pick and Rickwood [1965] WAR 95 Electricity Commission of New South Wales v Australian United Press Limited (1954) 55 SR(NSW) 118 Hadley v Baxendale 9 Exch 341 Hammond and Company v Bussey (1887) 20 QBD 79 HMS Truculent: The Admiralty v The Divina (Owners) [1951] 2 All ER 968 John Pfeiffer Pty Limited v Canny (1981) 148 CLR 218 Launceston Corporation v The Hydro-Electric Commission (1959) 100 CLR 654 Leotta v Public Transport Commission (NSW) (1976) 9 ALR 437 CASES CITED : Maloney v Commissioner for Railays (1978) 18 ALR 147 Meridian Global Funds Management Asia Limited v Securities Commission [1995] 2 AC 500 Osman v J Ralph Moss Limited [1970] 1 Lloyds Rep 313 (CA) Perre v Apand Pty Limitd (1999) 198 CLR 180 Ronneberg v Falkland Islands Company (1864) 17 CB(NS) 1 Smorgon v Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Limited: Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Smorgon (1976) 134 CLR 475 State Authority Superannuation Board v Commissioner of State Taxation (WA) (1996) 189 CLR 253 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424 The Wallsend [1907] P 302 Tamlin v Hannaford [1950] 1 KB 18 Tindall v Bell (1843) 11 M & W 228 Underwriters at Lloyds v Ellis (unreported, 25 February 1998, NSWCA) Watt v Bretag (1982) 56 ALJR 760 Western Australia v Watson [1990] WAR 248 PARTIES : Babcock International Limited (Appellant) v Babcock Australia Limited (1st Respondent) and Eraring Energy (2nd Respondent) Babcock Australia Limited (Appellant) v Eraring Energy (1st Respondent) & Babcock International Limited (2nd Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40031/02; 40627/01 T F Bathurst QC/ M C L Dicker (Appellant: CA 40031/01; Second Respondent:CA 40627/01) COUNSEL : G Inatey SC/ D T Miller (Appellant: CA 40627/01; 1st Respondent: CA 40031/01) B M J Toomey QC/J A Gracie/T Moisidis (2nd Respondent: CA 40627/01) Mallesons Stephen Jaques (Appellant: CA 40031/02; 2nd Respondent: CA 40627/01) SOLICITORS : Moray & Agnew (Appellant: CA 40627/01; 1st Respondent: CA 40031/02) Goldrick Farrell Mullan (2nd Respondent: CA 40031/02; 1st Respondent: CA 40627/01)