A Mazzzaferro & Riverstone Pty Ltd t/as Family Medical Centre v Vozzo & 5 Ors [2004] NSWCA 271

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : A Mazzzaferro & Riverstone Pty Ltd t/as Family Medical Centre v Vozzo & 5 Ors [2004] NSWCA 271 HEARING DATE(S) : 04/08/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 August 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 79; Handley JA at 80; Ipp JA at 2 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : WORKERS' COMPENSATION - Doctor contracted HIV and AIDS in the course of medical employment - Where precise date and occurrence of infection not identified - Where multiple employers - Causation - Where expert evidence given regarding the possible range of dates of infection - Whether any evidence supported finding of trial judge that employment by the appellants was a cause of injury - Whether evidence of arithmetic probability can sustain a finding on the balance of probabilities - Sufficiency of evidence - Whether question of fact or law - Whether absence of Reasons. D LEGISLATION CITED : Compensation Court Act 1984 (NSW), s 32 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 36, 37, 40 Ambulance Service of New South Wales v Daniel (2000) 19 NSWCCR 697 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries [1985] 4 NSWLR 139 Belmont Night Patrol Pty Ltd v Woolworths Ltd [2004] NSWCA 235 Bendix Mintex Pty Ltd v Barnes (1997) 42 NSWLR 307 E M Baldwin & Son Pty Ltd v Plane [1999] Aust Torts Reports 81-499 EMI (Australia) Ltd v Bes [1970] 2 NSWR 238 CASES CITED : Fernandez v Tubemakers of Australia Ltd [1975] 2 NSWLR 190 ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd v Walsh (1997) 15 NSWCCR 279 McPhee v S Bennett Ltd (1935) 52 WN (NSW) 8 Rose v Abbey Orchard Property Investments Pty Ltd [1987] Aust Torts Reports 80-121 Seltsam Pty Ltd v McGuiness (2000) 49 NSWLR 262 Tenax Steamship Co Ltd v The Brimnes (Owners) [1975] QB 929 Wallaby Grip (BAE) Pty Limited (In Liq) v Macleay Area Health Service (1998) 17 NSWCCR 355 Angelo Mazzaferro & Riverstone Pty Ltd t/as Family Medical Centre (Appellants) Franck Anthony Vozzo (First Respondent) St Vincents Hospital Sydney Ltd (Second Respondent) PARTIES : Liverpool Hospital - Liverpool Area Health Service (Third Respondent) Griffith Base Hospital - Greater Murray Health Centre (Fourth Respondent) Camden Hospital - Macarthur Health Service (Fifth Respondent) Sutherland Hospital - Sutherland Eastern Sydney Area Health Centre (Sixth Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40048/04 A J Poulos QC/P Perry (Appellants) COUNSEL : P Blacket SC/R Hanrahan (First Respondent) B R Ferrari SC/E Techera (Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth Respondents) Rankin Nathan (Appellants) SOLICITORS : Morgan Ardino & Co (First Respondent) Hunt & Hunt Lawyers (Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth Respondents)