BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED v Peter Howard HICKS & Ors [2008] NSWSC 874

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED v Peter Howard HICKS & Ors [2008] NSWSC 874

HEARING DATE(S) : 5 August 2008

JUDGMENT DATE : 5 September 2008

JUDGMENT OF : Simpson J

DECISION : Summons dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : AMINISTRATIVE LAW - Workers Compensation - judicial review - medical dispute - assessment of permanent impairment - Medical Assessment Certificate - proportion of permanent impairment attributable to previous injury - 100% deduction for previous injury - rights of appeal against assessment by approved medical specialist - demonstrable error - role of Registrar - Registrar satisfied that ground of appeal made out - meaning of "demonstrable error" - whether failure by delegate to give proper or adequate reasons - appeal to Appeal Panel - review of decision by the Appeal Panel - fresh Medical Assessment Certificate - 10% deduction for previous injury - test to permit appeal and role of Registrar under amended s 327(4) - no error on the face of the record - no jurisdictional error - summons dismissed

LEGISLATION CITED : Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 Workers' Compensation Act 1987

Campbelltown City Council v Vegan [2004] NSWSC 1129 Pitsonis v Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission [2008] NSWCA 88 Merza v Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission [2006] NSWSC 939 CASES CITED : Zuanic v Gypro-tech (Australia) Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2006] NSWSC 739 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan [2006] NSWCA 284; 67 NSWLR 372 Riverina Wines Pty Ltd v Registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission of NSW [2007] NSWCA 149 Mahenthirarasa v State Rail Authority of New South Wales [2008] NSWCA 101 Siddik v WorkCover Authority of NSW [2008] NSWCA 116