South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service v Gadiry and Anor [2002] NSWCA 161

Reported Decision : (2002) 54 NSWLR 495

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service v Gadiry and Anor [2002] NSWCA 161 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40744/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 20 May 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 31 May 2002

PARTIES : South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (Appellant) Tamiem Gadiry and Isabella Pelle (Respondents) JUDGMENT OF : Stein JA at 1; Giles JA at 51; Pearlman AJA at 52

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 561/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Gamble ADCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : R R Bartlett SC/S G Campbell (Appellant) J D Hislop QC/S J Harben (Respondents) SOLICITORS : Hunt & Hunt Lawyers (Appellant) Thomas Laycock Solicitors (Respondents) CATCHWORDS : WORKERS COMPENSATION - employee injured in motor vehicle accident - employer pays compensation - employer claimed indemnity from third party - liability of tortfeasor - whether trial judge misconceived the nature of the cause of action - whether s 151Z(1)(d) of the Workers Compensation Act creates a single cause of action of indemnity or whether it applies to each payment - D Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic), s 138 District Court Act, s 83A Limitation Act 1969, s 14(1)(d) LEGISLATION CITED : Suitor's Fund Act Worker's Compensation Act 1925 (Eng), s 30(2) Worker's Compensation Act 1926, s 64(1)(b) Worker's Compensation Act 1987, s 151Z(1)(d) Attorney-General v Arthur Ryan Automobiles Ltd [1938] 2 KB 16 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541 Grant v Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney (1999) 47 NSWLR 263 Howard Rotavator Pty Ltd v Wilson (1987) 8 NSWLR 498 CASES CITED: Kwanchi Pty Ltd v Kocsis (1996) 40 NSWLR 270 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun (1981) 147 CLR 589 State of NSW (Government Cleaning Service) v Cooper (2000) 49 NSWLR 221 Tickle Industires Pty Ltd v Hann & Richardson (1974) 130 CLR 321 Victorian Workcover Authority v Esso Australia Ltd (2001) 75 ALJR 1513 Westpac Banking Corporation v Tomassian (1993) 32 NSWLR 207 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed 2. The respondents be ordered to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal but have a certificate under the Suitor's Fund Act if otherwise entitled 3. Order dismissing the proceedings by Gamble ADCJ be set aside 4. The respondents' Notice of Motion in the District Court be dismissed with costs. 5. Proceedings remitted to the District Court to be dealt with according to law.