State Transit Authority of New South Wales v Fritzi Chemler [2007] NSWCA 249

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: State Transit Authority of New South Wales v Fritzi Chemler [2007] NSWCA 249

HEARING DATE(S): 11 September 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 18 September 2007

JUDGMENT OF: Spigelman CJ at 1; Basten JA at 58; Bryson AJA at 70

DECISION: The appeal should be dismissed with costs

CATCHWORDS: WORKERS COMPENSATION – Proceedings to obtain compensation – Appeal from Arbitrator to Presidential member – Nature and scope of appeal by way of review – power of Presidential member to review – s352 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 - WORKERS COMPENSATION – Injury - Principles of causation – Principles of compensation – role of the eggshell psyche principle – perception and psychiatric arising out of or in the course of employment – s4 Workers Compensation Act 1987

LEGISLATION CITED: Workers Compensation Act 1987; s4, s9A, s11A Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998; s352, s353(1), s354(6)

Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v GSF Australia Pty Limited (2005) 221 CLR 568 Aluminium Louvres & Ceilings Pty Limited v Zheng [2006] NSWCA 34 Boston Clothing Co v Margaronis (1992) 27 NSWLR 580 Bottle v Wieland Consumables Pty Limited (1999) 19 NSWCCR 135 Environment Agency v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Limited [1992] 2 AC 22 Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services Limited [2003] 1 AC 32 Kooragang Cement Pty Limited v Bates (1994) 35 NSWLR 452 Litynski v Albion Steel Pty Limited (1994) 10 NSWCCR 287 Mansini v Director General of Education (1990) 6 NSWCCR 1 CASES CITED: Morgan v Tame (2000) 49 NSWLR 21 Nominal Defendant v Gardikiotis (1995) 186 CLR 49 O'Halloran v R T Thomas & Family Pty Limited (1998) 45 NSWLR 262 South Western Area Health Service v Edmonds [2007] NSWCA 16 State Transit Authority of New South Wales v Chemler [2006] NSWCA 249 State Transit Authority of NSW v Chemler No 2 [2006] NSWWCCPD 332 Tame v New South Wales (2002) 211 CLR 317 Townsend v Commissioner of Police (1992) 25 NSWCCR 9 Travel Compensation Fund v Tambree (2005) 224 CLR 627 Watson v Hanimex Colour Services Pty Limited (1992) 8 NSWCCR 190 Yeo v Western Sydney Area Health Service (1999) 17 NSWCCR 573