F & D Normoyle Pty Ltd v Transfield Pty Ltd t/as Transfield Bouygues Joint Venture & 1 Or; Transfield Pty Ltd t/as Transfield Bouygues Joint Venture & 1 Or v Z Vranjkovic & 2 Ors [2005] NSWCA 193

Reported Decision : 63 NSWLR 502

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: F & D Normoyle Pty Ltd v Transfield Pty Ltd t/as Transfield Bouygues Joint Venture & 1 Or; Transfield Pty Ltd t/as Transfield Bouygues Joint Venture & 1 Or v Z Vranjkovic & 2 Ors [2005] NSWCA 193

HEARING DATE(S): 08/06/05

JUDGMENT DATE: 23 August 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Ipp JA at 1; McColl JA at 130; Bryson JA at 131

DECISION: (1) The Joint Venture's appeal against Mr Vranjkovic be dismissed with costs (2) The Joint Venture's appeal against Chadwick be dismissed with costs (3) Normoyle's appeal against the Joint Venture be upheld with costs (4) The judgment of the District Court in favour of the Joint Venture against Normoyle be set aside and, in lieu thereof, there be judgment in favour of Normoyle with costs.

CATCHWORDS: STATUTORY DUTIES - breach of duty under reg 73 of the Construction Safety Act 1912 (NSW) - meaning of "carries out any construction work" - meaning of "access" - meaning of "passageway" - whether contributory negligence is an available defence - NEGLIGENCE - breach of duty of care - reasonableness of the existing safety system - CONTRACTS - indemnity clauses - ambiguity - the principle in Andar Transport Pty Ltd v Brambles Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 424 applies - an indemnity clause, when ambiguous, is usually to be construed in favour of the person providing the indemnity - meaning of "any act, neglect or default" - meaning of "as a result of" - DAMAGES - assessment by trial judge - adequate reasons to be given by trial judge - standards laid down in Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247, Wiki v Atlantis Relocations (NSW) Pty Ltd (2004) 60 NSWLR 127 and Hume v Watson [2005] NSWCA 148 must be complied with. D

Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), Sch 1, Pt 3, cl 6 Civil Liability Amendment (Personal Responsibility) Act 2002 (NSW), Sch 2, cl 14, Sch 3 Construction Safety Act 1912 (NSW), regs 73(2), 73(5) LEGISLATION CITED: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 30(1)(c), 30(1)(e) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW), s 7 Statutory Duties (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945 (NSW), s 2(1) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 151E(1), 151N(3)