Scaltrito v NRMA Insurance Limited [2003] NSWCA 63

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Scaltrito v NRMA Insurance Limited [2003] NSWCA 63 HEARING DATE(S) : 06/03/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 1 April 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Young CJ in Eq at 3; Grove J at 29 DECISION : Appeal dismissed.

CATCHWORDS : Workers Compensation- Limitations of actions- Leave to commence proceedings required- When to exercise the discretion- Onus of proof upon the worker- Must be fair and just to extend time- Explanation of delay required- Leave not to be granted if it will lead to prejudice which will prevent a fair trial- Must demonstrate viability of the cause of action- Workers Compensation Act 1987, s 151D. Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998- Retrospective application of the Act- Changes to rights to obtain common law damages in certain situations- Futility of an action brought out of time, even where injury occurred before the commencement of the amendment- Workers Compensation Act 1987, ss 151G, 151H. (D) LEGISLATION CITED : Workers Compensation Act 1987, ss 151D, 151G, 151H Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 Itek Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott (2002) 54 NSWLR 207 Nominal Defendant v Manning (2000) 50 NSWLR 139 CASES CITED : Sydney Ports Corp v Collins [2003] NSWCA 28 Toolan v Metropolitan (Perth) Passenger Transport Trust (2001) 25 WAR 1 Whisprun Pty Ltd v Sams [2002] NSWCA 394 PARTIES : Tony Scaltrito (Appellant) NRMA Insurance Limited (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40480/01 COUNSEL : M R Aldridge SC and E E Welsh (Appellant) C R R Hoeben SC with W Austron (Respondent) SOLICITORS : The Norton Law Group, Lapaine Pomare & Forster (Appellant) Hicksons (Respondent)