TNT Australia Pty. Ltd. v. Wills & Ors. [2004] NSWCA 455

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : TNT Australia Pty. Ltd. v. Wills & Ors. [2004] NSWCA 455 revised - 13/12/2004 HEARING DATE(S) : 30 September and 1 October 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 13 December 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Hodgson JA at 1; Pearlman AJA at 59; Windeyer J at 60 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed against Mr. Wills. 2. Mr. Wills to pay TNT's costs of the appeal, and to have a Suitors Fund certificate if otherwise eligible. 3. Judgment in the proceedings for TNT against Mr. Wills, with Mr. Wills to pay TNT's costs of the proceedings on the statement of claim. 4. TNT's appeal against GSW and Zurich dismissed with costs. 5. Zurich's cross-appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - Workers' Compensation - Motor accidents - Plaintiff injured when manoevring ramps on car-carrying trailer supplied by defendant - Plaintiff working as employee of his own company pursuant to a contract between that company and the defendant - Whether defendant owed duty of care analogous to that of an employer, or only as supplier of trailer - Whether duty breached - Whether defendant entitled to contribution - Whether motor accidents insurer liable. LEGISLATION CITED : Motor Accidents Act 1988, ss. 3, 3B. Allianz Australian Insurance Ltd. v. GSF Australia Pty. Ltd. (2003) NSWLR 321 Andar Transport Pty. Ltd. v. Brambles Ltd. [2004] HCA 28, 78 ALJR 907 Bankstown Foundry Pty. Ltd. v. Braistina (1986) 160 CLR 301 Blatch v. Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63 (98 ER 969) Boral Roof Tiles Ltd. v. O'Brien, NSWCA, 15/12/94 CASES CITED : Brodie v. Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Havas v. Standard Knitting Mills Pty. Ltd. (2001) 52 NSWLR 295 Shedlezki v. Bronte Bakery Pty. Limited (1970) 72 SR(NSW) 378 Stevens v. Brodribb Sawmilling Co. Pty. Ltd. (1986) 160 CLR 16 TNT Australia Pty. Ltd. v. Christie [2003] NSWCA 47 Zurich Australian Insurance Ltd. v. CSR Ltd. (2001) 52 NSWLR 193 TNT Australia Pty. Ltd t/as TNT Automotive Logistics - appellant PARTIES : Gregory James Wills - first respondent G. & S. Wills Pty. Ltd. - second respondent Zurich Australia Insurance Ltd. - third respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41009/03 Mr. M. Holmes QC with Mr. G. Parker for appellant COUNSEL : Mr. G. Reynolds SC with Mr. J. Anderson for 1st respondent Mr. R. McIlwaine SC with Mr. M. Robinson for 2nd respondent Mr. D. Feller SC for 3rd respondent Ebsworth & Ebsworth, Sydney for appellant SOLICITORS : Martin Bell & Co., Sydney for 1st respondent McCulloch & Buggy, Sydney for 2nd respondent Vardanega Roberts, Sydney for 3rd respondent