STATE RAIL AUTHORITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES & ANOR v BROWN [2006] NSWCA 220

Reported Decision : 66 NSWLR 540

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: STATE RAIL AUTHORITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES & ANOR v BROWN [2006] NSWCA 220

HEARING DATE(S): 29 May 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 7 August 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA at 1; Santow JA at 27; Basten JA at 28

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: EVIDENCE & PROCEDURE – whether evidence of cross-examined expert could be preferred – whether rule in Browne v Dunn infringed – whether cross-examination was prematurely stopped - NEGLIGENCE – damages – whether rehabilitation expenses required under the Workers Compensation Act were "reasonably necessary"

District Court Rules 1973 (NSW), Part 24D, r20; Part 28, r9(2A) Evidence Act 1995, ss 55, 102, 103 LEGISLATION CITED: Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), Part 51, r23 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), Chapter 3, ss 41, 43, 47, 57 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151Z(1)(b)

Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [1983] 1 NSWLR 1 Boston Clothing Co v Margaronis (1992) 27 NSWLR 580 Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R 67 Fazlic v Milingimbi Community Inc (1982) 150 CLR 345 Ho v Director of Public Prosecutions (1995) 37 NSWLR 393 M & EM Hull Pty Ltd v Thompson [2001] NSWCA 359 Manly Municipal Council v Skene [2002] NSWCA 385 CASES CITED: Palmer v The Queen (1998) 193 CLR 1 Parker v Director of Public Prosecutions (1992) 28 NSWLR 282 Poricanin v Australian Consolidated Industries Ltd [1979] 2 NSWLR 419 Precision Plastics Pty Ltd v Demir (1975) 132 CLR 362 R v Beattie (1996) 40 NSWLR 155 Sharman v Evans (1977) 138 CLR 563 State of New South Wales v Fahy [2006] NSWCA 64 Wakeley v The Queen (1990) 93 ALR 79