State of New South Wales v Karen Therese Stevens [2003] NSWCA 298

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : State of New South Wales v Karen Therese Stevens [2003] NSWCA 298 HEARING DATE(S) : 02/09/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 15 October 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Santow JA at 2; Davies AJA at 3 DECISION : Appeal allowed. Orders para [60].

CATCHWORDS : Negligence - whether Department of Education and Training owed duty of care to a speech pathologist employed by the Department of Community Services but working in a school - whether duty of care breached - whether duty to protect staff against violence by children - whether duty breached in circumstance that child was autistic with severe intellectual disability - whether breach could be proved in absence of expert evidence - whether s151Z(2) of the Worker's Compensation Act 1987 should be applied to reduce the damages awarded LEGISLATION CITED : Workers Compensation Act 1987 s 151Z (2) Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 Haines v Tempesta (1995) 37 NSWLR 24 TNT Australia Pty Limited v Christie [2003] NSWCA 47 CASES CITED : Wilsons & Clyde Coal Co. v English [1938] AC 57 Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 673 Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562 F v R (1983) 33 SASR 189 Rogers v Whittaker (1992) 175 CLR 479 PARTIES : Appellant: State of New South Wales Respondent: Karen Therese Stevens FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41013/02 COUNSEL : Appellant: Mr J.D. Hislop QC, Mr G.P. Rundle Respondent: Mr S.G. Campbell SC, Mr T. Bland SOLICITORS : Appellant: Hicksons Lawyers Respondent: Garrett Walmsley Madgwick Lawyers