Coles Myer Ltd v Rudzinski [2006] NSWCA 161

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Coles Myer Ltd v Rudzinski [2006] NSWCA 161

JUDGMENT DATE: 22 June 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 19 & 23; McColl JA at 1; Tobias JA at 20

EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE: 06/22/2006

DECISION: 1) Appeal dismissed; 2) Appellant to pay the respondent's costs on an indemnity basis

CATCHWORDS: WORKERS COMPENSATION – assessment of compensation – whether compensation should include payments for children as totally or mainly dependent on the respondent – no reason why child could not be mainly dependent on one parent while also mainly dependent on the other – organisation of financial affairs of parents irrelevant in absence of sham or fraudAPPEAL – no error of law – appeal constituted an attack on findings of fact

LEGISLATION CITED: Workers Compensation Act 1987 s 37(4)Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 s 353

CASES CITED: AGL v Samuels (1993) 9 NSWCCR 616Holden Pty Ltd v Walsh (2000) 19 NSWCCR 629McCafferty's Management Pty Ltd v Pimlott (1995) 12 NSWCCR 360Spenceley v Deniliquin Shire Council (2001) 22 NSWCCR 7Watson v Hanimex (1992) 8 NSWCCR 190

PARTIES: Coles Myer Limited Jolanta Rudzinski

FILE NUMBER(S): CA 40590/05

COUNSEL: A: R W Seton SC / D G Saul R: D O'Dowd

SOLICITORS: A: Leitch Hasson Dent, Sydney R: Gillis Delaney Lawyers, Sydney

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION: Workers Compensation Commission

LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S): WCC12766.2003

LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER: Ms Faye Robinson (Arbitrator)

LOWER COURT DATE OF DECISION: Friday 26 March 2004

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES COURT OF APPEAL CA 40590/05 WWC PD 51