Ghunaim v Bart [2004] NSWCA 28

Reported Decision : (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81-731

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Ghunaim v Bart [2004] NSWCA 28 HEARING DATE(S) : 30 October 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 24 February 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Ipp JA at 3; McColl JA at 4 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Judgment below set aside. 3. In lieu thereof, verdict and judgment for the appellant in the amount of $308,862.03. 4. Parties to have liberty to apply on two days notice in respect of the calculation of the verdict and judgment, such liberty to be exercised no later than 14 days after the date of this judgment. 5. Respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal.

CATCHWORDS : CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE - whether worker guilty of contributory negligence in relation to workplace injury - principles governing contributory negligence by employees - nature of an appeal against a finding of contributory negligence - DAMAGES - nature of an appeal against award for non-economic loss - assessment of loss of earning capacity - whether actuarial evidence is required to prove a claim for loss of superannuation benefits. - D Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW), s 9, s 10(1) LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A(5) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151N(3), s 151N(4) Amaca Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales [2003] HCA 44, (2003) 77 ALJR 1509 Bankstown Foundry Proprietary Limited v Braistina [1986] HCA 20, (1986) 160 CLR 301 Beale v GIO (1997) 48 NSWLR 430 Bourke v Butterfield and Lewis Ltd [1926] HCA 38, (1927) 38 CLR 354 Carlyle v Commissioner for Railways (1954) 54 SR (NSW) 238 Caswell v Powell Duffryn Associated Collieries Ltd [1940] AC 152 Commissioner for Railways v Halley (1978) 20 ALR 409 Commissioner for Railways v Ruprecht [1979] HCA 37, (1979) 142 CLR 563 Davies v Adelaide Chemical & Fertiliser Company Limited [1946] HCA 47, (1946) 74 CLR 541 Dell v Dalton (1991) 23 NSWLR 528 Dews v National Coal Board [1988] AC 1 Diamond v Simpson (No 1) [2003] NSWCA 67; (2003) Aust Torts Reports 81-695 Donovan v Port Macquarie Base Hospital [1999] NSWSC 1274 Flower v Ebbw Vale Street, Iron and Coal Co Ltd [1936] AC 206 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22, (2003) 77 ALJR 989 Grimsey v Southern Regional Health Board (1997) 7 Tas R 67 Heather v Vita Pacific Ltd (1996) 6 Tas R 52 Hedge v Trenery (QCA, unreported, 7 November 1997, BC9706085) Hyne & Son Pty Limited v Tomlinson (Queensland Court of Appeal, 22 May 1998, unreported, BC9802125) John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Rivkin [2003] HCA 50, (2003) 77 ALJR 1657, (2003) 201 ALR 77 John Summers & Sons Ltd v Frost [1955] AC 740 Jones v Bradley [2003] NSWCA 81 Jongen v CSR Ltd (1992) Aust Torts Reports 81-192 Joslyn v Berryman [2003] HCA 34, (2003) 77 ALJR 1233 Kelly v Fletcher (WASC, unreported, 22 October 1997, BC9705411) Liftronic Pty Limited v Unver [2001] HCA 24, (2001) 75 ALJR 876 Love v Clarona Pty Ltd (WASC, unreported, 24 January 1997, BC9700040) CASES CITED : March v Stramare [1991] HCA 12, (1991) 171 CLR 506 McLean v Tedman & Anor [1984] HCA 60, (1984) 155 CLR 306 Misfud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725 Mitchell Erectors Pty Ltd v Hinnen [2002] WASCA 169 Moran v McMahon (1983) 3 NSWLR 700 Mott v Boggan [1998] QSC 265 Mousa v Marsh [2001] NSWCA 317 NSW Ministerial Corporation v Wynn [1994] Aust Torts Reports 81-303 Pennington v Norris [1956] HCA 26, (1956) 96 CLR 10 Podrebersek v Australian Iron & Steel Pty Limited [1985] HCA 34, (1985) 59 ALJR 492 Re Baker v Hanlon, Evans & United Dairy Foods [1999] QSC 142 Rexstraw v Johnson [2003] NSWCA 287 Roads and Traffic Authority v Cremona (2001) 35 MVR 190, [2001] NSWCA 338 Rolls Royce Industrial Power (Pacific) Limited v James Hardie & Co Pty Limited (2001) 53 NSWLR 626 Ryan v State Rail Authority of New South Wales [1999] NSWSC 1236 Southgate v Waterford (1990) 21 NSWLR 427 Sungravure Pty Limited v Meani [1964] HCA 16, (1964) 110 CLR 24 Teubner v Humble [1963] HCA 11, (1963) 108 CLR 491 Thomson v Mybner Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 766 Todorovic v Waller [1981] HCA 72, (1981) 150 CLR 402 Twynam Pastoral Co Pty Ltd v Bennett [2002] NSWCA 319 Villasevil v Pickering (2001) 24 WAR 167 Wade v Ors v Allsopp & Anor (1976) 50 ALJR 643, 10 ALR 353 Warren v Coombes [1979] HCA 9, (1979) 142 CLR 531 Welsh v Cotton Seed Distributors [2000] NSWSC 861 Wynbergen v Hoyts Corporation Pty Limited [1997] HCA 52, (1997) 72 ALJR 65, 149 ALR 25 Wynn v NSW Ministerial Corporation [1995] HCA 53, (1995) 184 CLR 485 Zappara v Jones (WASC, unreported, 22 May 1997, BC9702411) PARTIES : Ali Ghunaim (Appellant) Wilhelm Bart (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41024/02 COUNSEL : C Branson QC/P S Jones (Appellant) G Watson SC/M H Best (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Colin Daley Quinn - (Appellant) Sparke Helmore - (Respondent)