Mechanical Advantage Group Pty Ltd v George [2003] NSWCA 121

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Mechanical Advantage Group Pty Ltd v George [2003] NSWCA 121 HEARING DATE(S) : 17/03/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 21 May 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Handley JA at 2; Young CJ in Eq at 27 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : Workers Compensation- Personal injury- Workers Compensation Act 1987, s 10- Journey provisions- Detour- Deviation- Interruption- Material increase in the risk of injury- Onus of proof to disprove material increase in risk on worker- Prima facie case that no material increase in risk then onus shifts to employer to prove there was an increase- Injury in NSW on return journey to place of abode in Queensland- Areas of knowledge in which the Workers Compensation Court has "expert knowledge"- Rules of evidence for Workers Compensation Courts. (D) Compensation Court Act 1984, s 32 LEGISLATION CITED : Workers Compensation Act 1987, ss 10(1), (2), (3)(e) Workplace Injury Management Act 1998, s 112(3) Ambulance Service of NSW v Daniel [2000] NSWCA 116 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Bryer v Metropolitan Water Sewerage & Drainage Board (1939) 39 SR (NSW) 321 Burns v Nott [1927] WCR 17 Kealley v Jones [1979] 1 NSWLR 723 Kemp v Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co Ltd (1959) 76 WN (NSW) 707 CASES CITED : Maksymczuk v Gillespie Brothers Pty Ltd (1957) 98 CLR 523 Martin v Globe Worsted Mills Pty Ltd (1962) 80 WN (NSW) 237 May v O'Sullivan (1955) 92 CLR 654 NRMA Smash Repairs Pty Ltd v Hoy (1995) 11 NSW CCR 326 (CA) Scobie v K D Welding Co Pty Ltd (1959) 103 CLR 314 Tucker v W D & H O Wills (Aust) Ltd (1969) 43 WCR 11 Vetter v Lake Macquarie City Council (2001) 202 CLR 439 PARTIES : Mechanical Advantage Group Pty Ltd (Appellant) Neil George (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40240/02 COUNSEL : L King SC and MFG Batten (Appellant) JP Gormly SC and BG McManamey (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Goldrick Farrell Mullan (Appellant) Turner Freeman (Respondent)