Lipman Pty Ltd v McGregor & Ors [2004] NSWCA 6

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Lipman Pty Ltd v McGregor & Ors [2004] NSWCA 6 HEARING DATE(S) : 04/02/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 15 March 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA; Santow JA; Gzell J DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : PROCEDURE - Courts and judges generally - A judge's failure to mention insignificant evidence in reasons for judgment is not error - TORTS - Negligence - Employer subcontractor not in breach of non-delegable duty of care when employee injured by negligence of head contractor - CONTRACTS - General Contractual Principles - Construction and Interpretation of Contracts - Indemnity of head contractor by employer subcontractor against liability in respect of personal injury arising out of Works - Works defined as erection and dismantling of scaffolding - Injury sustained when stairs erected by head contractor collapsed - Injury not arising out of Works LEGISLATION CITED : Workers Compensation Act 1987 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (in liq) (1999) 73 ALJR 306 Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725 Fox v Percy (2003) 77 ALJR 989 CASES CITED : TNT Australia Pty Ltd v Christie [2003] NSWCA 47 Davis v Commissioner for Main Roads (1967-1968) 117 CLR 529 Nigel Watts Fashion Agencies Pty Ltd v GIO General Ltd (1995) 8 ANZ Insurance Cases 61-235 State Government Insurance Office (Q) v Brisbane Stevedoring Pty Ltd (1969) 123 CLR 228 Lipman Pty Ltd - Applicant PARTIES : Robert McGregor - 1st Respondent Constructor Scaffolding Pty Ltd - 2nd Respondent GIO Workers Compensation (NSW) Ltd - 3rd Respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40165/03 Mr A C A Bridge SC - For the Applicant COUNSEL : Mr DT Kennedy SC/ Mr M A Kumar - 1st Respondent Mr P Morris - 3rd Respondent Hunt & Hunt Solicitors - Applicant SOLICITORS : Taylor & Scott - 1st Respondent Leitch Hasson Dent - 3rd Respondent