Rooty Hill Medical Centre v Gunther [2002] NSWCA 60

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Rooty Hill Medical Centre v Gunther [2002] NSWCA 60 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41026/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 25 February 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 11 March 2002

Rooty Hill Medical Centre Pty Limited & Anor PARTIES : v Michael Gunther JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Handley JA at 2; Hodgson JA at 36

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 1377/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Christie DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Appellants - M J Windsor Respondent - S Norton SC/A P Healey SOLICITORS : Appellants - David Ian Brown, Sydney Respondent - Brydens Law Office, Liverpool CATCHWORDS : VICARIOUS LIABILITY - master and servant relationship - non-delegable duty - DAMAGES - Workers Compensation Act - lump sum compensation - future weekly compensation Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Employees Liability Act 1991 Medical Practice Act 1992 Kempsey District Hospital v Thackham (1995) 36 NSWLR 492 Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia v Ferrcom Pty Limited (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 Smith v Chadwick (1884) 9 App Cas 187 CASES CITED: Kondis v The State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672 Kornjaca v Steel Mains Pty Ltd [1974] 1 NSWLR 343 Hood Constructions Pty Limited v Nicholas (1987) 9 NSWLR 60 Transfield Pty Limited v Mastrioanni (1998) 20 NSW CCR 193 (CA) Franklins Self Service Pty Limited v Wyber (1999) 48 NSWLR 249 DECISION : Appeal allowed - orders made