Humphreys v Mulco Tool & Engineering Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 355

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Humphreys v Mulco Tool & Engineering Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 355 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 21 September 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 11 December 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Ipp JA at 1; McColl JA at 2; Basten JA at 108

DECISION: Appeal allowed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: WORKERS COMPENSATION - whether commencement of proceedings to recover damages in respect of a work-related injury on 21 November 2001 in contravention of s151C of the Workers Compensation Act 1987, constituted an election for the purposes of s151A, precluding the worker from claiming permanent lump sum compensation under that Act STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - transitional provisions - whether by virtue of cl 9(1) of the transitional provisions in Schedule 6, Part 18C of the 1987 Act, the new s151A of the 1987 Act inserted by Schedule 1 of the Workers Compensation Legislation Further Amendment Act 2001 applied. (D)

Arbitration (Civil Actions) Act 1983 Interpretation Act 1987 Workers Compensation Act 1926 Workers Compensation Act 1987 LEGISLATION CITED: Workers' Compensation (Amendment) Act 1953 Workers Compensation (Benefits) Amendment Act 1989 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 Workers' Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2000 Workers Compensation Legislation Further Amendment Act 2001 Workmen's Compensation Act 1906 (UK)

Asplundh Tree Expert (Australia) Pty Ltd v Robertson [2006] NSWCA 471 Australian Iron & Steel Ltd v Hoogland [1962] HCA 13; (1962) 108 CLR 471 Berowra Holdings Pty Ltd v Gordon [2006] HCA 32; (2006) 80 ALJR 1214 Brighton Und Refern Plaster Pty Ltd v Boardman [2005] NSWCA 167 Brighton Und Refern Plaster Pty Ltd v Boardman [2006] HCA 33 Buck v Comcare (1996) 66 FCR 359 Burnett v Union Steamship Co of New Zealand Ltd (1936) SR (NSW) 119 Chang Jeeng v Nuffield (Australia) Pty Ltd [1959] HCA 40; (1959) 101 CLR 629 Coates v Commissioner for Railways (1960) 78 WN (NSW) 477 Coleman v Shell Company of Australia Ltd (1943) 45 SR (NSW) 27 Deng v GMS Fulfilment Services Ltd (2003) 25 NSWCCR 446 Electricity Commission of NSW v Yates (1991) 30 NSWLR 351 Gordon v Berowra Holdings Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 27; (2005) 62 NSWLR 427 Harbon v Geddes [1935] HCA 25; (1935) 53 CLR 33 CASES CITED: Harrison v Wythemoor Colliery Co Ltd [1922] 2 KB 674 Jol v State of New South Wales (1998) 45 NSWLR 283 Jones Bros Bus Company Pty Ltd v Baker; Wyong Shire Council v Graham (1992) 26 NSWLR 322 Latter v Shire of Muswellbrook [1936] HCA 70; (1936) 56 CLR 422 Mathisen v Wallarah Coal Company Ltd (1937) 37 SR (NSW) 530 O'Connor v S P Bray Ltd [1937] HCA 18; (1937) 56 CLR 464 O'Connor v S P Bray Ltd (1936) 36 SR (NSW) 248 Ostojic v Trazmet Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 145 Pye v Butterfield Cheese Factors Pty Ltd (1996) 39 NSWLR 425 Quigley v Australian Red Cross Society [1993] 9 NSWCCR 506 State of New South Wales v Connor [1999] NSWCA 251 State of New South Wales v Connor [2003] NSWCA 200 The State of New South Wales v Taylor [2001] HCA 15; (2001) 204 CLR 461 Union Steamship Co of New Zealand Ltd v Burnett [1937] HCA 19; (1937) 56 CLR 450 Whisprun Pty Ltd v Sams [2002] NSWCA 394